Thoughts from FIRESTORM 2007

I sit here thinking about the past week of craziness in San Diego, as firefighters continue to work tirelessly against the raging flames. I've never been more proud to be a San Diegan. The First Responders that came to the aid of our community are incredible. Sure, this week was filled with a lot of uncertainty for my family, but we are all safe and our homes are fine. That is something to be thankful for.Even the families who lost their homes say that they are thankful. They are thankful for their safety, for the prayers of others, for the assistance that the citizens of San Diego have given them. They lost their homes-- and much more-- but they still are still thankful. That's incredible.

It's during tragedies like this that I remember what's really important to me. On Tuesday, after I learned that I wasn't supposed to go into work or school, the first thing I thought was "Great. Let me go be with my family." So, my husband and I drove to North County-- left the less smokey air of downtown and went to possibly the most dense, ashy air that I saw all week...Just so I could be with my family. Were they threatened? Not really. Was I threatened? No...but it didn't matter. I still wanted to be with them during that time of worry and confusion.

I feel lucky to be so close to my family that I could just take a 45 minute drive to be with them. A lot of people aren't that lucky. But, during this Firestorm, the evacuees at Qualcomm, the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and numerous other evacuation centers, were so well taken care of that for some, it was as if the volunteers were their own family members.

In closing, I just want to say THANK YOU, one more time to the firefighters and first responders who sacrificed their lives for the people of San Diego. And, especially to all of those who were injured. You are true heroes.