and I am grieving.
An unprecedented firestorm swept across Altadena, CA, this week. The fire was propelled by record-breaking winds that incinerated most of the city overnight like a blow torch. The inferno destroyed the homes of families of modest means and wealthy alike, wiping out family treasures, valuable art, shops, businesses, schools, libraries, churches, and community centers. But what was lost in the fire was much more than material.
photos from the internet
I treasured my childhood in Altadena. My brothers and I could ride our bikes miles and miles to explore the world and to meet up with friends at parks, pools, libraries, and homes. I loved the libraries, housed in cozy California Spanish-style buildings with warm wood, cool plastered walls, and Spanish tile floors. Every resident lived within a mile of a library and a park. It was a community for people.
photos from the internet
Growing up, I had a sense of place. Since the fires started, I have been immersed in childhood memories, and I am grieving.
photos from the internet.
One of our December rituals was a slow night-time drive through Story Book Lane (not pictured) and up Christmas Tree Lane (above) and its wonderland of 100-year-old deodar trees full of twinkling lights. The fire erased the magic.
photos from the internet
Holly McKay, journalist and war reporter, explains why we should NEVER say, “But you are lucky; you got out alive.”
“Things are never just objects; they carry the weight of our lives, stories, and emotions. The worn armchair isn’t just furniture—it’s where you rocked your child to sleep, read your favorite book, or sat with a loved one. The family photographs aren’t just pieces of paper—they’re fragments of time, capturing moments you’ll never get back. The dishes in your cupboard are more than tools for eating; they remind you of dinners shared, conversations had, and the love poured into meals for family and friends.”
When Tim and I left our southwest Utah home after more than 40 years, we left the adobe house we built mostly with our own hands. We gave away most of our possessions. These were our choices, yet we still felt loss and grief, although not in a your-house-just-burned-down way. As Holly McKay explains,
“Even the most minor, most mundane items—a bracelet, a coffee mug, a handwritten note—are imbued with meaning. They represent milestones, loved ones, or even the hope and joy of a future you were building. Losing these “things” in a matter of moments doesn’t just feel like losing objects; it feels like losing the foundation of your life, the threads that connect you to your history, your identity, and the people you love.”
photos from the internet
Thousands of people in the Los Angeles region will face many challenges in rebuilding their lives. Housing in Los Angeles will quickly become even more scarce and more costly. The burdens will fall heavierst on those who have lost their jobs or businesses due to the fires.
photos from the internet
Holly McKay continues: “It’s not just lost homes or possessions — It’s the years of memories, the sense of safety, and the deeply personal ties to a life that can never be fully replicated.”
Tim and I know that building a sense of neighborhood and finding one’s place in a community can take many years. We feel profound sadness for everything the people of Altadena are losing. We cherish our four+ decades in Southern Utah and know that we cannot duplicate the wonderful people, landscapes, and memories of those decades. We are grateful for our friends who keep us connected across the pond through personal communications.
If you are inspired to assist people in Southern California, you can donate to:
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation American Red Cross California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund United Way California Community Foundation Westside Food Bank World Central Kitchen Pasadena Humane Love and wishes for a heartful 2025 from Tim and Penelope
Aloha Tim and Penelope: it is horrific to watch our childhood neighborhoods go up in smoke, and take people's lives and memories, as so eloquently described by Holly McKay. Many of my high school classmates and friends had family homes in Pacific Palisades, and I have family in Topanga Canyon who have had to evacuate. It hits really close to home, and brings back the sick and empty feeling that watching Lahaina, Maui burn to the ground brought a little over a year ago. And one of the profound losses for many of the Maui folks was loss of community - it's such a treasured part of life.
I think of you both often and love following your adventures and…