I was hoping that by now we’d have had more rain vs. thimblefuls, but we experienced a brushfire instead. Way too early in the year, too close to home. Friends texted me: ALREADY? and EXCORCISM RE; SUPER LA NINA. And so on.

Our literal fire drill taught my family that we’re not in bad shape timewise as far as crating animals, throwing suitcases and the box filled with vital files into the back of the minivan and getting the hell out via one of several escape routes we mapped out last year. So–that’s good.

Our firefighters were heroes–the burn line came directly to property fences, but not a house was lost. Grateful. And grateful our firehouse is only 2 miles up the road.

My advice: If you’re told a fire is 10 miles from your hood, don’t let helicopters sucking up water at your local HOA pond distract you from realizing it’s best to hurry home and start loading the car, because: the swiftness of fires.

Yours in staying safe this sure-to-be scorching summer,

PB