We woke up in the morning with the smell of smoke inside our home.  We immediately closed the windows.   It became evident that we were now National News. 

I first noticed the fire as we exited my Grandmother's Funeral Home, right after her incineration started on Wednesday at around noon.   Five hours later when I came back to pick up her ashes, the fire had spread and it took on a life of its own.  The first video reflects that.

I left the house at 8am this morning, headed to Surfside/Garden City Beach, located about 40 minutes away via highway 31, which was now closed, thus doubling my driving time.  The second video shows the thick smoke on highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach.

Three of my daughter's friends have lost their homes in the fire.  Several shelters are still open; one of them in my gym - the North Myrtle Beach Aquatics and Fitness, the other at my daughter's church, the Barefoot Church on Main Street.  All North Myrtle Beach Schools were cut short: after about an hour of class, all students were dismissed.  They were actually having the PAC testing today, a huge deal for our schools, perhaps the only reason they've even attempted to have class today.  It's kind of hard to concentrate on a test when you know you no longer have a home...

The third, fourth and fifth clips were shot on my way back from Surfside/Garden City, around 3:30 in the afternoon. 

We were the only ones on the Beach tonight, as we were holding my Grandmother's Funeral.  By the time we finished our intimate and very touching Celebration of my Grandmother's Life, we realized the skies were now clear; the fires had been put out.  No more smoke, no more dark clouds. 

It all started with my Grandmother's incineration and ended with her remains being lovingly poured into the blue Atlantic.  The rest of the magic that transpired remains to be told in an upcoming blog. 

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                Join the Optimist Group!