Friday, November 16, 2007

One of Those Days

Sometimes late autumn days in mediterranean Southern California fool you. You think it's summer. Pure blue sky. High 80s.


I woke up yesterday to One of Those Days. A shirt sleeves and sandals day. Clear, clear, crystalline, azure and turquoise day.

One of Those Days like when Farmer Bill out in Iowa is sitting in the living room listening to the -10 degree wind whistling around the corner of the barn, delaying his tramp out to the barn through three feet of snow to milk the cows by watching a UCLA football game on TV and he sees the blue sky and hears the announcer tell the world that the temperature is 78 degrees. He looks at that screen and yells out to his wife in the kitchen,

"Martha! Start packin'! We're sellin' the farm and movin' to California!"

Which is what my great grandparents did except they went to visit some relatives in Oregon on the way to California and loved the Willamette River Valley and never left. My cousin Donna and I are the only ones who ever made it to California.

And yet. And yet. The great weather comes with a price as the world saw last month. It doesn't rain much and wild fires are a constant threat.

I hear it when people talk about the weather about the fact it hasn't rained but 4 inches here since LAST fall. I sense the tension in their voices, see the wariness in their eyes.

Are the Santa Ana Winds going to start up again this week and bring more hot dry winds to drive sparks in a fiery fury that will burn our forests, our towns, our homes? AGAIN.

10 comments:

Heather said...

That's really neat family history you mentioned. you can live through me, we're having amazing leaves and it's finaly cooling off here in Atlanta.

Bethany said...

Oh, I hope you don't have a repeat of the last bout of winds!!! And I am jealous of the warm weather! It is so cold, damp and gray here. I have to remind myself that I was just wishing for cool weather two months ago!!!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Love the photo of the bottlebrush plant against the blue sky.

It does look like the Santa Ana winds are expected again, just in time for Thanksgiving....more hot weather! And we're all praying no more fires.

Anonymous said...

I know it's quite the trade off, but isn't the weather just gorgeous today? I was walking between buildings to a meeting and had to force myself to keep on the path (and not veer towards my car to go do something fun).

Mary said...

Wonderful family story. I enjoyed it. For some reason I like the four seasons of Ontario. I've never been to California, but possibly one day.

About the reading challenge. One idea would be to pick an era and read both fiction and non-fiction books on the subject. I have so many that I want to read. I'm sure you will be seeing reviews of them on my blog.

For a great Christmas story, pick up a copy of The Christmas Quilt at the local library. It's awesome.

Blessings,
Mary

Robin said...

I LOVE southern California - but I have only ever visited there.
I'm excited to hear you are going to be a new grandmother too! I look forward to exploring your blog and getting to know you better!

kate said...

I certainly hope that the Santa Ana winds don't hit you again ... it was awful watching. Having gone to San Diego twice earlier this year and loving the climate, it was hard to see the damage that the recent fire wrought.

I think it's cool that your great-grandparents just packed up and went west.

Happy weekend!

Anonymous said...

I really liked your family story and I'd love a warm day mixed in with the windy, rainy days we've been having here lately. I hope the winds stay away.

Midlife Cycler said...

Living in the midwest, we think of California as this great climate but dont really think about your threats you live with. I guess there is something in all parts of the country. But I love that picture on the blog, what is that??

Barbara said...

The Australian Bottle Brush in November too. I hope you do not get the bad winds for your thanksgiving. We are currently having heavy rain and rain and rain and rain. I wish I could exchange some with you for some sun.
Con grats on your award.