Some of you may remember from last year that a dove couple nested in the plastic wreath on my front porch and successfully raised two gorgeous chicks there until one day they were gone. That was all documented on my blog. I wonder if they’re the same dove couple that I regularly saw at the back of the house who were wandering on the little sidewalk in my backyard with the absence of dogs as it is scorched.
I wondered recently where they will nest, since the wreath burned in the fire. I wonder if they will have the wherewithal to return in the spring of 2026 if I am able to construct something similar, or will they be so disoriented from the interruption of the fire to be able to resume the one-year tradition?
I’ve never had a trauma like this fire before. I’ve also never been this low weight in my adulthood. It’s hard to remember to eat when I’m barely sleeping and I have so much on my mind, not to mention a lot of nightmares. It’s hard to create rituals when things are moving so fast and I have found I have so little control over my destiny, especially in this period of my life.
Front page Vallejo Times Herald article today mentioned the five souls I lost in the fire and the pet grieving events I was already actively trying to facilitate with Kathryn D. Marocchino and Carlene Coury. Hopefully this will trigger more donations in their memory in the link listed at the bottom of the article. I do like knowing that their memory will help other cats and dogs find homes and have better lives.
Hugh’s dogs and Snoopy enjoyed the hill in the backyard now that it’s reinforced and unbreachable. I felt very loved when over a dozen folks volunteered to help me move furniture in and set up the rental house while my home is being renovated a few block away. These people took time out of their day even though it was a rainy weekday morning.
I got a call from the veterinarian’s office downtown. I was told in the chaos of the fire that they would cremate all five dogs that were killed in the fire individually for free, which is very touching. I think one of my neighbors arranged that for me. The remains of the last of the five are expected at their office tomorrow, so I’ll have to pick them all up. I will make sure someone drives me because I’m not sure how I’m going to handle it.
Two-day countdown to temporary rental and I’m feeling less scruffy after using my replacement beard trimmer set. I’m so appreciative of my hosts, whose home is like a second home to me. Snoopy and I (and other dogs who are now sadly gone) were here all summer at their pool. Year-round I always love coming over here for meals and coffee visits. I look forward to hosting them again where I am, both this year and next year when I’m actually home. Indeed, I’m so grateful for so many aspects of the community coming forward. No matter how much I critique FB, it has facilitated communications during this devastation. I still use my blog as the source of truth, but happy to garner all the resources I can at this dark time.
