25: worth another look-see

 Dear Friend,

How are things going in your world? Oh, I was going to tell you this last week, a cashier recently told me, "It isn’t intelligent to ask someone, 'How are you?'"

He then explained, “I guess it’s a ‘new thing’ just to challenge those of us with limited vocabulary.”

“Thanks for that,” I said, and decided for myself that I’ll probably ask people how they’re doing countless more times and I won’t be sorry.

Especially friends. I ask you how you are because it’s an efficient way to prompt your answer to my genuine wonder.

I suppose that ‘new thing’ would make a difference to me if I felt it was more important to sound intelligent than to find out how a friend is doing. I sincerely hope that you and yours are doing well, and that you are in a good place today.

On Thursday, we said goodbye to Oregon and our friends there.

We stopped around 300 miles away to stay at a campground that has laundry and showers, electricity and water. Yay, for clean and smelling better! We weren’t planning to leave as early as we did this morning.

I had planned to take my time and write this blog/letter to you in the wee hours of this morning so that I could post it before we left, check-out was around noon.  Frank had a lot of incredible and interesting photos to share, and I was looking forward to putting it all together!

BUT yesterday, an arsonist decided that it would be a perfect time to start a 'wild' fire and, because of wind and very dry terrain, the fire has grown by leaps and bounds and, though main roads and highways closed last night, we were able to pivot and drive the open ones to our next destination without too much trouble, all because the winds were in our favor and because we left early.

So, this blog/letter is, once again, late. Thank you for your understanding.  

As with every fire, our thoughts are with the creatures and people who are having to flee their homes, we’re also concerned for the fighters of the fire, and all of the volunteers who help the evacuees.

If you’ve never been evacuated, I’m sure you can imagine, evacuation centers are like little neighborhoods with temporary neighbors, many are extremely worried. These people suddenly had to leave the safety of their home, and often, everything in it. They are facing countless unknowns. Have you been there before?

Fire preparation is always worth another look-see. We covered an evacuation and ‘bug out kits’ in Tracks 2024 no. 32 During emergencies (Link follows this blog post).

Thank you very much for being here to read Tracks by the Post. Perhaps you have surmised, I’m not writing about the things that I had planned to write about today. Instead, we just want you to know that we have you in our thoughts and Thanksgivings and we’re sending you a hearty, “How are you doing?” and a big hug.

Gently Be,

Leslie and Frank

PS: Please do Write when you have a moment, we always enjoy hearing from you!

Pps: Here are the links to a couple of blog/letters that we feel are worth another look-see.

Tracks 2024 no. 32 During emergencies about a fire and tips on evacuating

Tracks 2024 no. 31 Thank you, Sheep! About how sheep and goats help to thin wildfire tinder