July 12, 2017
Good morning, friends and family,
Some personal reflections - NOT AN OFFICIAL UPDATE
All’s quiet here in Big Lake this morning. It is 6am, and already the phone has rung with someone looking for my husband to help with a delivery to the hall to assist the firefighters. Far from being an intrusion, there is definitely something comforting about being woken up at that hour of the morning, knowing that our community heroes are already up and at ‘em.
Smoke is still in the air, but there is something different about it. It is not so thick, and it reminds me of that stinky smell in Fort McMurray last year when we visited after the fire was out. I know we need to stay vigilant and ready, and I am not unpacking my car, but I am hopeful we won’t need to evacuate after all. We had a bit of rain last night, and we are told to expect thunder and lightning later today so things could change in a heartbeat. I was checking the interactive fire map last night, and I noticed that the dot representing the fire closest to our house has disappeared. I had to look twice, but yes, it has disappeared. Yay!!
Yesterday, when the power was out and I thought I would need to evacuate, I was motivated to finish packing and load my car. I already had important papers packed, but no pictures. I got a couple of boxes together, and started taking them off the wall. I chose a couple of photo albums, but I don’t know how you choose which ones to take and which ones to leave behind. I couldn’t find my kids’ baby pictures or my own in the chaos that is my office. One of the silver linings in my dad’s recent passing is that many of these old pictures are now digitized, so I’m not too upset about that.
I was upset about not being able to find a poem my sister wrote for me in 2002. She had intended it to be my Christmas present that year, but she died before she could put it on card stock. For all these years, it has been on my dresser under my jewelry box, and I have read it over and over. Yesterday, it was not there. I suspect it has slid under the mirror and fallen behind the dresser, but I was not strong enough to move my dresser. I had resigned myself to leaving it behind, but I was upset and found it difficult to concentrate on gathering the rest of my list, when I was hit by a brainwave. Sure enough, the envelope we got from the funeral home when she died was still there, and it contained copies of all her poems as well as some pictures of her I had forgotten I had, and notes from the speeches people made at her service! So, all is right with the world again, except it is a bit of a pain to run out to the car to get my toothbrush, slippers or a biscuit for Henry. Everyone is in the same boat, as I see cars driving around the community piled high with totes and boxes.
Speaking of the community, we are so lucky to be part of it! I know every rural community is the same, and that everything I am about to say about Big Lake applies to Horsefly, Likely and Miocene as well. Normally I try to stay away from fire halls during an emergency unless I have something to contribute , but yesterday when I went there to work because there was no power at home, I was struck by the atmosphere of camaraderie throughout. The hall was a beehive of activity, and it seemed like the entire community had turned out to volunteer. There were Forestry red uniforms, BLVFD navy t-shirts and coveralls, and people in no uniforms. There were lowbeds and large trucks lining both sides of the Likely Road, the parking lot was full, and both sides of the Big Lake Tyee Lake Road had vehicles parked on it. The field next to the hall is being used as a helicopter landing pad. The big doors were rolled up, and two community members were seated at tables welcoming people who needed information about the fires in our neighbourhood, signing up volunteers and giving out pamphlets. The office and command centre was a hub of activity: a local community member was fixing the copy machine, and there were BLVFD volunteers and forestry personnel strategizing together. I was introduced to the forestry personnel safety officer who assured me that forestry is welcoming community volunteers to help with the suppression efforts around our community and others – they just want to assure their safety. He will source safety gear for our volunteers, and he will reach out to the Likely VFD as well. Community members were arriving with food donations, and there were 2 ladies in the kitchen just finishing the cleanup from breakfast. When I expressed my disappointment that I had missed it, and would go back out to my car and get some trail mix, Marianne wouldn’t hear of it. She immediately whipped me up a plate of scrambled eggs, despite the fact that meant she would have to do the cleanup all over again.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all those working flat out to keep us safe. If I try and list them, I’ll be sure to leave someone out, so I won’t try. If you know any of these people, please find a way to express our thanks. They are working long hours, and for many, this is not their regular job. Many are volunteers, many are seniors, and many have come from elsewhere to help. They are all heroes, in my book, and the guys who made us all cry came from Fort McMurray on their own dime. They collected donations, took time off work and drove for 16 hours to get here. Words cannot express the boost that gave to everyone. It’s hard to even write about it without getting emotional.
Speaking of emotions, please everyone, let’s be kind to each other. We are all undergoing trauma whether we realize it or not, and sometimes people get angry because they are scared, worried about loved ones or undergoing some sort of trauma we don’t know about. I, and several of my colleagues, are working flat out to get information out to people and provide some reassurance, and sometimes people are critical of our efforts, feel that they are being left out of the loop, or don’t like the decisions that are made. While I am the first to admit that I am no saint, I am finding that it is less emotional to reassure people who are critical, and maybe even angry, than it is to accept accolades from people who are appreciative of the work we are doing. Emotions are close to the surface for all of us, and for me, kindness and appreciation are sometimes my undoing. It’s all good, so far they are happy tears, and that’s always healthy. Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and well wishes!
It’s taken me 4 ½ hours to write this, and not quite so quiet now. Planes and helicopters are flying overhead, and Vince is out with the Fire Department. All is well, and I need to get back to work. For those waiting for an update, I will try and post one soon.
Joan
Good morning, friends and family,
Some personal reflections - NOT AN OFFICIAL UPDATE
All’s quiet here in Big Lake this morning. It is 6am, and already the phone has rung with someone looking for my husband to help with a delivery to the hall to assist the firefighters. Far from being an intrusion, there is definitely something comforting about being woken up at that hour of the morning, knowing that our community heroes are already up and at ‘em.
Smoke is still in the air, but there is something different about it. It is not so thick, and it reminds me of that stinky smell in Fort McMurray last year when we visited after the fire was out. I know we need to stay vigilant and ready, and I am not unpacking my car, but I am hopeful we won’t need to evacuate after all. We had a bit of rain last night, and we are told to expect thunder and lightning later today so things could change in a heartbeat. I was checking the interactive fire map last night, and I noticed that the dot representing the fire closest to our house has disappeared. I had to look twice, but yes, it has disappeared. Yay!!
Yesterday, when the power was out and I thought I would need to evacuate, I was motivated to finish packing and load my car. I already had important papers packed, but no pictures. I got a couple of boxes together, and started taking them off the wall. I chose a couple of photo albums, but I don’t know how you choose which ones to take and which ones to leave behind. I couldn’t find my kids’ baby pictures or my own in the chaos that is my office. One of the silver linings in my dad’s recent passing is that many of these old pictures are now digitized, so I’m not too upset about that.
I was upset about not being able to find a poem my sister wrote for me in 2002. She had intended it to be my Christmas present that year, but she died before she could put it on card stock. For all these years, it has been on my dresser under my jewelry box, and I have read it over and over. Yesterday, it was not there. I suspect it has slid under the mirror and fallen behind the dresser, but I was not strong enough to move my dresser. I had resigned myself to leaving it behind, but I was upset and found it difficult to concentrate on gathering the rest of my list, when I was hit by a brainwave. Sure enough, the envelope we got from the funeral home when she died was still there, and it contained copies of all her poems as well as some pictures of her I had forgotten I had, and notes from the speeches people made at her service! So, all is right with the world again, except it is a bit of a pain to run out to the car to get my toothbrush, slippers or a biscuit for Henry. Everyone is in the same boat, as I see cars driving around the community piled high with totes and boxes.
Speaking of the community, we are so lucky to be part of it! I know every rural community is the same, and that everything I am about to say about Big Lake applies to Horsefly, Likely and Miocene as well. Normally I try to stay away from fire halls during an emergency unless I have something to contribute , but yesterday when I went there to work because there was no power at home, I was struck by the atmosphere of camaraderie throughout. The hall was a beehive of activity, and it seemed like the entire community had turned out to volunteer. There were Forestry red uniforms, BLVFD navy t-shirts and coveralls, and people in no uniforms. There were lowbeds and large trucks lining both sides of the Likely Road, the parking lot was full, and both sides of the Big Lake Tyee Lake Road had vehicles parked on it. The field next to the hall is being used as a helicopter landing pad. The big doors were rolled up, and two community members were seated at tables welcoming people who needed information about the fires in our neighbourhood, signing up volunteers and giving out pamphlets. The office and command centre was a hub of activity: a local community member was fixing the copy machine, and there were BLVFD volunteers and forestry personnel strategizing together. I was introduced to the forestry personnel safety officer who assured me that forestry is welcoming community volunteers to help with the suppression efforts around our community and others – they just want to assure their safety. He will source safety gear for our volunteers, and he will reach out to the Likely VFD as well. Community members were arriving with food donations, and there were 2 ladies in the kitchen just finishing the cleanup from breakfast. When I expressed my disappointment that I had missed it, and would go back out to my car and get some trail mix, Marianne wouldn’t hear of it. She immediately whipped me up a plate of scrambled eggs, despite the fact that meant she would have to do the cleanup all over again.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all those working flat out to keep us safe. If I try and list them, I’ll be sure to leave someone out, so I won’t try. If you know any of these people, please find a way to express our thanks. They are working long hours, and for many, this is not their regular job. Many are volunteers, many are seniors, and many have come from elsewhere to help. They are all heroes, in my book, and the guys who made us all cry came from Fort McMurray on their own dime. They collected donations, took time off work and drove for 16 hours to get here. Words cannot express the boost that gave to everyone. It’s hard to even write about it without getting emotional.
Speaking of emotions, please everyone, let’s be kind to each other. We are all undergoing trauma whether we realize it or not, and sometimes people get angry because they are scared, worried about loved ones or undergoing some sort of trauma we don’t know about. I, and several of my colleagues, are working flat out to get information out to people and provide some reassurance, and sometimes people are critical of our efforts, feel that they are being left out of the loop, or don’t like the decisions that are made. While I am the first to admit that I am no saint, I am finding that it is less emotional to reassure people who are critical, and maybe even angry, than it is to accept accolades from people who are appreciative of the work we are doing. Emotions are close to the surface for all of us, and for me, kindness and appreciation are sometimes my undoing. It’s all good, so far they are happy tears, and that’s always healthy. Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and well wishes!
It’s taken me 4 ½ hours to write this, and not quite so quiet now. Planes and helicopters are flying overhead, and Vince is out with the Fire Department. All is well, and I need to get back to work. For those waiting for an update, I will try and post one soon.
Joan