NOT SO "HAPPY LIVING" IN LOS ALAMOS, NM

To the right is the hospital.  We lived 4 blks. from here.

 I was up during the night visiting on phone and Facebook with dear friends in Los Alamos.  There is a huge fire (Las Conchas fire) that has already burned 50,000 acres.  We were on a change of station in Washington DC eleven years ago when the Los Cerros fire devastated our little town.  Our house, rented to friends, received heavy smoke damage, but did not burn.  Many of our friends lost their homes.  There were children who were severely traumatized, some have never fully recovered.  And now, here we go again.

This is the local radio station which we can get loud and clear from Vienna.  Amazing!

Mandatory evacuation took place yesterday afternoon.  Some had no idea where they were going, but had to get off the Hill.  Those with RVs headed for camp grounds in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.  The National Lab where Greg worked is closed until further notice.

I am thankful to not be experiencing it first hand, but it is nevertheless difficult to not be there.  There is a camaraderie of sorts that occurs when there is a crisis of this magnitude.         

This email received from friends last night gives a different perspective to the situation:
We have been through this before, and the good thing about it is it really puts the proper things in focus front and center-- God and our family.  We are at peace and trusting God. He is so good, and is caring for us.  We are taking with us the 6 "P's --people, pets, prescriptions, papers, pictures, and personal computers. And most importantly, the PEACE of God and PRAYER.

Los Alamos, we are praying for you!


Enough said.