Minimal rainfall, Santa Ana winds, high heat , and low humidity all add up to a prescription for a potential disaster. Today was expected to be a beautiful day in Southern Cal. My plans included a bike ride at the beach after church and a little mid-day business.
After loading 2 bikes in my truck I headed for services at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove Ca. I'm a member and a volunteer at the East door as a greeter,..interning for my eventual retirement job as a greeter at the local Wal-Mart, according to my daughter.
The radio news mentioned a brush fire near the toll road in the Orange County community of Anaheim Hills. Not to be confused with the area of Anaheim the home of Disneyland, this bedroom community (although actually part of the City of Anaheim) is a bedroom community in the rolling hills of eastern OC. The news, while obviously not good, was yet not all that uncommon with Santa Ana hot (offshore) winds blowing from the desert and mountains every now and then.
During the service (at the CC) winds kept us from keeping doors wide open. Immediately after church heading (east) to the 57 freeway at the Big-A (Angels Stadium) and the Anaheim Pond (Ducks) I couldn't help seeing huge plumes of smoke in the distance ahead. My plans included first, previewing an open house for a client.
Soon, while sitting as a red light (just off the freeway) a group of fire trucks, sirens blaring passed us by, afterwards I made a u-turn and decided to go the opposite direction back to the freeway. Next, dropping off a bike to a friend, I was passed again by a caravan of fire trucks including crew transports this time. Photos were taken sitting at the light. 
Seeing the faces of the young fire fighters hurried by, riding in crew trucks placed a whole new face on the situation for me. This was far more than just a brush fire, erratic winds forced the fire to the west, heading towards thousands of homes.
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As that happened, faces of friends flashed before my face:
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What about Andrew and Kathleen, buyers who invited me to dinner not long ago (after closing) in their beautiful east Anaheim Hills home
- What about my friend Dale,he lives in East Anaheim Hills, also a fellow rainer and Realtor.
- And while waiting for a counter offer today, I thought...is that why I haven't heard yet? The agents are a family team who also live in the area, (forget about business) are things o.k. with them?
Business can always wait. It's all the people you think about that are really important, right? I can't even imagine what it must be like to experience the devastation of Katrina or the most recent tornados in Al. My heart goes out to all of you.
Last Update: Now it appears that winds may be dying down and the fire is heading to the open hillside area (yes we still have some, yet not nearly enough in the OC.) and hopefully not threatening homes. Tomorrow is another day of high winds and hight temps.
No doubt, we all have lot's to be grateful for, right?
And congratulations on your broker's license! 
Lynda, thanks for keeping us posted and congrats you are FEATURED!
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