The next couple days were very tense for me.  The air cranes flying water over the city to the fire made me feel better, but the enormous smoke cloud and news of evacuations north of Flagstaff were really unsettling.  The workshop peeps kept me well occupied and offers of help if we needed it were extremely comforting though there’s really nothing you can do during a fire that big but get out of its way.

The workshop, meaning the people who made it up, were amazing.  There were many moments of simple grace where the people, landscape, sky and city came together for a positive experience.  15,000 acres of beautiful mountain country burned, my favorite daily running trails closed indefinitely due to fire danger, but I still feel like I can call it a good week.  For the first time tonight, we can’t see fire or flames from our backyard thanks to the efforts of the 900+ firefighters on the job. As far as I’ve heard, there were no structures lost and the evacuees are back in their homes.

This week was a strong reminder for me that people make all the difference, whether they be friends or firefighters.  So, love to all my friends and family out there!  If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve made a difference in my life at one point or another, and I’m grateful for it.