Thursday, September 10, 2020

Poetry on Thursday

Today's poem is one that I've had in the back of my mind since I got an anxious phone call from Ryan on Monday (the emergency I referred to yesterday). He was in a panic, which kind of sent me into panic mode. We had talked before about the Cameron Peak Fire burning near Fort Collins CO since August 13th, but it grew explosively over the weekend (20,000 to 103,000 acres), and the eastward movement closer to his house and mandatory evacuations really worried him. Ryan moved to CO in 2013, after the nearby High Park Fire, and being from the east neither one of us have much fire experience. The apocalyptic-looking sky, falling ash, and daytime darkness from smoke didn't help, and it also doesn't help that he lives by himself. His first instinct was to get on a plane and fly back east, but we've been avoiding that due to virus concerns. Ryan had an accident just about a year ago driving back from Wyoming in a snowstorm. He flipped his car, totaled it, and mangled up his arm, so he is still a bit wary of driving in the snow if he doesn't have to. Long story short, we talked on the phone four different times on Monday and decided that he needed to pack a bag and gas up his car, stay where he was and wait to see what happened when predicted rain and snow arrived, drive south towards Denver if he truly felt unsafe in Fort Collins and stay at a hotel near the airport, and get a flight back east only if it seemed absolutely necessary. Ultimately he decided to stay home and for now, that looks like it was the right decision. He felt much better when he heard the Larimer County sheriff say during the Monday evening fire update that he didn't envision evacuations for Fort Collins or Loveland in the next 48-72 hours. 

Both of us have been watching the morning and evening fire updates and it looks like the precipitation and cooler temps have helped park the fire temporarily, but the estimated containment date is not until Saturday, October 31st. There will be warmer temps by the end of this week and presumably lower relative humidities and more fire activity. It's possible that Ryan and I both over-reacted, but now we have a plan for the future that feels like it balances fire and virus safety. (Many thanks to Eileen who offered me calm and reassuring words, based on her previous fire experience!)

This is not the only fire in CO, nor the only fire in the west. There are far too many fires as you can see from the Inciweb map, and they are all causing uncertainty, suffering, loss, and devastation. Fire season is a reality of life in the west, made worse by global warming and lack of resources. 


This is a photo of Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins around noon on Monday. Snow moved in late Monday so you can see why I had fire and ice on my mind.


Fire and Ice
Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Frost, Robert. December 1920. "Fire and Ice", A Group of Poems by Robert Frost. Harper's Magazine. p. 67.
You can read more about Robert Frost here

I wish you mindfulness, peace, safety, and some poetry as this week winds down.



18 comments:

  1. Bonny, I think momentary panic is understandable! My stepson and his wife _just_ moved to Oregon last month, and I am very concerned for them. He said it was a constant rain of ash where they are, but supposedly they are in no imminent danger. Nevertheless, it is worrying. Here's hoping that the danger is soon past for Ryan and my John Jr. The poem reflects a bit of tension that is most appropriate in the situation!

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  2. I have been holding Ryan and all those in the paths of the fires that are raging the west. But, that poem coupled with those eerily beautiful images is indeed perfect! (It is amazing to me that something so dangerous can create such beauty)

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  3. It must be especially hard to be a long distance mom in circumstances like this. A colleague of mine has a daughter in Colorado, just outside Ft Collins and I've watched her struggle with some of the same concerns. I think it was smart to make a plan and I know I always feel better if I know what I'm going to do if things turn dire. I'll be holding space for you and Ryan and this season continues.

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  4. I am glad that he is okay and has not had to evacuate, and I'm also glad that he has a plan and is ready to go if he needs to. I will keep him in my thoughts!

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  5. It's so damn scary! I'm glad it's working out so far. (Though it would have been great to see him!) Dan was planning on seeing customers in WY on Tuesday on a return from SD but beat feet to get home before the snow started. They got 7 inches up there!

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  6. So glad Ryan is ok and not needing to evacuate at this time. Scary!! Glad you two have come up with a plan (that hopefully will not need to be used). Perfect poem and beautiful (though sad/scary) pictures. My brother in Boulder had covered his garden in preparation for the snow and before the snow arrived his ground covers were covered in ash!

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  7. So scary. Thank goodness he's OK -- and let's hope it stays that way!!!

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  8. I'm so glad you and Ryan have a plan! I think a plan makes all the difference in the world. (Please remember that my sister is in Cheyenne, should a northern escape route be necessary.) I grew up in the west, and lived in Fort Collins for many years while Tom was a grad student at CSU. We NEVER had fires. NEVER. It was dry, sure, and there may have been occasional the fires in the mountains from time to time, but we never had the extreme heat and fires that have been happening over the past few years. Definitely the impact of global warming! Erin has been sending me photos of the landscape outside her windows (south Bay Area) and it looks like . . . Mars. Just freakin' unreal. Sending all the good juju. XO

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  9. The fires in the west are so very frightening and the excessive heat and WIND make it so much worse. Thankfully, you and Ryan have good plans that will very likely never be needed. We had hurricane force winds Monday and Tuesday that knocked out power (still out for most of SLC) and downed thousands of trees. The cleanup will take months.

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  10. I can't begin to imagine how terrifying it must be for everyone who lives in the areas of those fires. Hoping things improve and Ryan will stay safe!

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    1. There are people still evacuated and waiting to hear if their houses have been destroyed, and whole towns and lives lost in CA and OR. Terrifying, indeed. Things have improved in CO after some rain and snow, but temps are back near 90 so the fire activity is picking up again. We'll be keeping a watchful eye.

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  11. Almost everything seems end-times-y right now. I’m sending calming thoughts to the west!

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  12. I would be panicking as well, I hope Ryan is always safe, being a parent to an adult child is HARD. The worrying never stops!! Thank you for the poem!

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  13. As I commented on someone else's blog, when I first saw pictures of 'orange' scenes, (not immediate fire areas) I thought they had photoshopped them. Ummm, nope. Here's hoping for good rain and low temperatures for all the fire areas.

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    1. Nope, no photoshopping or filters necessary! They were lucky enough to get some rain and snow in CO, but the temps have returned to near 90 so fire activity will be picking up again. I don't think there's been much respite from the weather in CA, OR, or WA, so sadly, this probably won't be over for several months.

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  14. Blessings to Ryan and You and I hope that he’s still safe. The fires in CA, CO, OR and WA are really adding insult and injury to all the other afflictions we’re experiencing in 2020. I have to echo Vera’s thanks for the horrifyingly beautiful pictures and Robert Frost’s poem is perfect. I will keep you and all our fellow citizens in my prayers and thoughts.

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  15. Im glad I caught up on my blogs. Our friends moved to Fort Collins in May. Oh my. He is a retired Fireman and she is steady state all the time wife. But, we have to contact them ASAP after seeing your post. Thanks

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  16. Those photos are terrifying and beautiful at the same time - maybe more terrifying. No one ever told us when we had children we would worry for them the rest of our lives. I am glad Ryan has a good plan that he doesn't have to put into place. I'm keeping that area and all of you in my thoughts.

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