Unstoppable Wall of Flame Ever Closer to Quiet Retreat!

Again, I apologize. That title brought a much needed laugh. Tonight is a big night. Fire fighters have trooped in to do battle all night as to be ready for the morning. There is a windy day in the forecast tomorrow. If you don't know, the wind here is epic. Old men in sea captain hats write books about wind like this. It is a heart breaker of a wind. A mind splitter. A wind that elicits curses and tries relationships. The wind is not good news.

Listen, I don't know what sort of person you are. If you like the idea of putting out a bowl of water and sending prayers, it that's your thing, please do it. A lot. A lot tonight and more tomorrow. Give water to people you know then think of that fire going out. If you think that's all superstition, fine. This is America, after all. The great melting pot of...of...things that melt together under great heat. Bad simile. Take a swim at the local pool and think of the fire going out. Donate to the local fire station. Anything. Do it.

Years ago there was a fire two valleys over from DMU. There was no multi million retreat valley back then. Just yurts and homes and the temple. The fire department came out and spent the night on the camp ground. They sent Johneo and I up on a ridge where we could see if the fire crested and started to move toward the camp ground. Ironically, they gave us a flare to signal with if we saw it coming. Flares are very hot and start fires really well. They said, "If you boys see it come over that ridge, signal us and then you got about an hour to get back and get out. I packed my meager belongings from my tent, which was my home at the time, and put them in the "Oven" a giant shipping container that is in the campground. My belongings fit in one back pack and two boxes. I was ready. JEO and I played music on the ridge into the night waiting for the end to come. The devil may care, we didn't. Ok, we did. It was a strange feeling. Elated and nervous. Nothing happened that night. Allison chain smoked with the fire fighters and made snacks.

This fire is no fun. It's huge. Biggest in AZ history. And it seems to be narrowing down and pointed right at the retreat valley. Does that seem odd to any one else? Perhaps I'm being self centered. I am. Of course I am. But the damn thing has moved over miles and mile and weeks to end up at our back door. Why didn't it go to Willcox? Or hit the back of Dos Cabesas peak? Pleanty of room out there, you know. It all bespeaks a little to much of, dare I say it, the super natural. I leave it to you. If there were such things as negative spirits, they would frikin hate what the retreaters are up to in there. Oh, it would make them so mad. This would make a great beginning to a radio drama. Sleep tight, dear listener. Dream of water.