Rancho Bernardo Home of Jeanne and Chuck

Dear Friends - This photo is a compilation of several photos taken at the home of my parents. Our family is grieving the loss of lots of stuff. We are racking our brains to remember what is lost in order to deal with insurance. Each day we organize and run errands putting in place the details of rebuilding the folks' existence -- replacing Rx's, finding them a rental home, selecting rental furniture, buying pots, pans, dishes, new appliances, clothes, cleaning supplies and all of the necessities. Everything is gone.

Since Dan and I were about to tear down our garage and build a new one, I can't even begin to list here what Dan, Karalee and I have lost. Photos, wedding dress, bat mitzvah photos and mementos, Dan's stamp and coin collection (he and his Dad had collected over 2 lifetimes and had every plate block since 1920 of every American Stamp-- the fire-rated safe was destroyed, can you believe it?), almost everything from Karalee's childhood. It is emotionally overwelming.

Through it all, we are trying to bask in the blessing of my Dad's physical survival. He drove out of the garage at 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning. The garage was in flames at the time. Dad had no time to even grab his cell phone. At about 6:00 a.m., our doorbell started ringing. Dan was home alone and I was in Hawaii. When Dan opened the door, there stood Dad, covered in soot. He could only say, "I'm homeless." At 3:00 a.m. Hawaii time, I received a message from Dan on my cell. I'll post the message here later.

The blessing is how in a time of crisis, we can come together as a family and as a community. This is comforting and reassuring and reminds us constantly of what to value in life.

I will try to post more later. To view this photo in a larger sizde, click on the image. It will appear in a way that is larger than your screen. Use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of your screen to pan the shot.

Blessings, Lee