Getting Back on Our Feet

Rebuilding a Life a Month After the Eaton Fire

In January, the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, destroying my home and community. Yet, a month later, I struggled with what to write. The overwhelming exhaustion I felt during the initial weeks provided me an excuse not even to try.

Every task, both big and small, became essential and pressing. Prioritizing one thing over another felt impossible, leaving me feeling that the smallest of missteps could cause a costly and lasting mistake. Constant anxiety and severe sleep deprivation made January a brutal and unforgiving way to start the new year.

Embracing a sense of gratitude helped immensely. It was easy as I was surrounded not only by others who had also lost all their possessions but also those whose circumstances were worse than mine. Families lost homes that had been in their family for two or three generations. There were people whose loss wasn't covered by insurance. There were individuals less than a mile away from me who lost their lives. Things were terrible, but they could have been so much worse.

The support and outreach from friends, family, former students, podcast listeners, and the various communities in our lives have made this significant loss more manageable. Financial support helped us as we struggled with insurance companies' initial responses. Friends with experience in insurance, law, and construction helped us grasp the critical fundamentals of what we faced. People, both familiar and stranger, held us up and reminded us that my family and I would not be walking through this storm alone.

Several of my neighbors met for brunch this weekend. It was the first time many of us had been together since a late summer gathering. Since the fire, we have dialogued via text thread and social media, but this was the first time we had seen each other since we fled the flames.

Everyone had their challenges to share. Some had lost their homes, while others' homes escaped destruction but suffered extensive smoke damage, making it impossible to inhabit. Yet, despite our dire circumstances, there was an invaluable sense of community and gratitude. Our relationships as neighbors were transformed by shared trauma, but there was also an eagerness to share moments of kindness, humor, and understanding. It was a rare opportunity to be among people who understood the survival of such a significant loss without the need for explanation or justification. It provided a welcome respite.

We move into a rental next weekend, a place that we will call home for the following year. I welcome the sense of stability this brings. I am eager to return to a domestic routine rather than the temporariness that comes with displacement. Watering the lawn, cooking dinner, and walking the dog are mundane things I am eager to return to.

Within a couple of weeks, I will conduct my first interview for the 2025 season. I cannot wait to put the microphone in front of my face and hit the record button again. It will feel both strange and familiar. Yet, it will provide a sense of normalcy that I am eager to return to, even if it is just for an hour.

Thanks again to the many people who have continued to support me and my family during this time. Your financial and moral support has meant the world to us.

Cynthia has created a GoFundMe, which you can contribute to. We also ask that you share it with your friends, family, and social circles. Every little bit helps.

You can also contribute via BuyMeaCoffee, buy eBooks from my website, or become a Patreon member to support me and the show, which will return soon.

If you wish to contribute directly to us via Zelle or Venmo, please leave a message in the comments, and I will reach out to you.

Thank you for your kindness and support. It means the world to us.