One of the most disturbing things about having a terminal illness, in our case Parkinson's Disease, is the feeling of powerlessness, of being unable to do anything about it. Being unable to control the illness and knowing that others cannot help eliminate it can be painful. So too with fire. This week we all watched from afar as smoke filled the air and the wonder of 'control' being completely out of our hands. Others were in charge: Command Central, fire fighters, hot shot crews, slurry pilots, and the Red Cross.
It made me wonder if perhaps, in this situation, the real need was a 'sense' of control we seek.The sense that we can choose. Many people were evacuated, others on pre-evacuation. But all do legally have the option to stay or leave. I was thinking that the more one perceived themselves in control, the better they feel about their decision to leave.
We can't control disease or fire, but we do have a choice in how we respond. This community is amazing.