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6 years of firestorms each felt still
in the lung of memory
such precise fears, anxieties, losses
even as spring eases into our minds in tender sun green leaves
on the oaks
and myriad wild flowers in bud through verdant grasses
on the window screen a few Mayflies live out
their one, amazing day of life perhaps admiring the view of the lake from which
they just emerged
give our lives perspective
One evacuation under our belt Room in our car for only 3 kitties Some clothes, important
documents We drove to family in Humboldt
8 hours, of letting go and letting go Silence, breath, introspective
We thought about leaving these summers and autumns of smokey air
and apocalyptic sunsets, but instead we buy a backpack, our 'bug out’ bag our new
lexicon, and laugh
our evacuation plan written finally, on a crisp spring day in order of importance
safety before danger, life before death the cry of the osprey half
An hour before first light Catch and medicate the kitties Into the carrier, into the car
Our‘bug out’ bag
Call to a friend
Who will start our phone tree Our game of tag
The car always full of gas We live deeply each moment
Ready to ‘bug out’
With no regret, no lament