Wildfires are a part of life up here, and that very threat is given the seriousness that it deserves.
When the forest is a tinder box and those summer thunderstorms make their presence known, combined with the ever-present threat of careless weekend visitors not paying attention, the threat of a wildfire becomes all too real.
We have gone through a few wildfires, with the last one being the largest wildfire in Colorado's history.
The Cameron Peak wildfire of 2020 caused massive devastation shattering countless dreams while altering the wildlife and landscape for generations to come. The fire burned through 208,913 acres on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Through the confusion and worry, uncertainty and fear, each of us go through our way of coping with the aftermath. And if you are one of the fortunate ones not to have suffered any loss, you will still be humbled.
Home again
Ann had me digging out snow from places that I'd never seen before or areas that didn't need it. I was happy to oblige because I know what the old girl is thinking.
She's grateful that we have a driveway to shovel, so get all the spots, even those that don't exist. It's a nervous distraction from the realities of the fire that is still ragging to the south, as well as a means to convince herself that we are alright. I get it.
We've been saying our fair share of prayers lately, just like everyone else, and hoping that you are all in a safe place. The snow that fell overnight is truly God sent as an answer to a mountain-load of prayers.
Funny thing about prayers. I've always felt like the good Lord, and I share a fair understanding of how prayers work. Ann, on the other hand, has her own system.
She prays like she's in Vegas. The bigger the need, the bigger the bet…err, um promise. A promise prayer being the top shelf of prayer desperation. You know, one of those "Lord I promise to …" "Lord if you do me this favor, I promise I will…." "Lord if they don't find the body, I promise I will never…"
Those are the prayers that, well…you need to answer.
I've been there and done that, and thankfully never felt the wrath of a promise left unanswered. I mean, what the hell are you thinking? It's the Lord, for Christ's sake, so keep your promises within reason.
Don't go out on a limb and promise the farm when it still has a second mortgage on it. Again, it's the Lord, and I'm fairly sure he has "people" to check on stuff like that, wildfire or not, so again, keep your promises within reason.
Ann has been as nervous as a sinner in Sunday school lately, so either she misplaced her valiums, or she's got a fair size debt to answer for past prayers answered. Payment due kind of thing.
That's between her and the Lord, but since we are involved in a Vegas-type approach to prayers, I'm betting on Ann. She's got a good track record with the Lord, and he's covered her bets…errr promises in the past.
She has been known to mix things up from time to time, and I'm sure that's all that's going on. I can't see there being a penalty for over-praying and mixing up the "Lord I promise…" prayers with the "Bless my sisters' new puppy" prayer, so the old girl will probably slip under the wire again.
Well, there were some cows loose on the main road yesterday, enough snow to keep "Nextdoor" filled with questions today, and Ann's coffee is just as bad as it always has been, so from my view, everything seems to be falling back into place.
So, as things slowly get back to normal, we will keep praying, and I'll keep shoveling snow from places that don't exist if it makes Ann feel like everything is alright again.
Thanks for listening.