My friend Anthony took this photo of Germany Valley, clear as it should be in November on top, and under it the current view obscured by smoke from all of the wildfires surrounding us.
These are indeed frightening times! We have just elected a completely unqualified and truly disturbing man as President of this nation. And each day the long drought continues, as if it echoes the drought of reason and civility in our times. It has not rained in a very long time, and the leaves are like tinder, crinkled and completely dry, waiting for the arsonist's match. Because that is who has been causing the many fires all around us: an arsonist, spotted here and there lighting these many wildfires. Yesterday he tried to burn the mighty Bob Padgett Poplar Tree in Horse Cove, but fortunately they were able to put the fire out. Who would do such a thing?
We owe our firefighters a debt of gratitude as they have struggled to contain fires in Cliffside, Whitewater Falls, Lake Lure, and Warwoman Dell only 10 miles or so from our house, in rugged terrain. The smoke blows over the mountains and it is hard to tell where it is coming from - one day it will be clear down here in Clear Creek and smoky in Highlands, and the other day just the opposite. Running and hiking are risky in this unhealthy air, so we wait for relatively smoke-free air and get on the road when we can. Last week I drove out to Zachary Hospital to get in a short run because it was so thick in Town. On the satellite map it is truly a shocking sight.
So we continue to pray for rain, and for reason, and for the good that we have to believe lies in most of our hearts despite the hatred, racism, and bigotry.
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