Only this today...

Many of you have shared your own stories in heartwarming response to recent newShrink focus on Habitat for Humanity of my Charlotte region in North Carolina.

Now the special organization makes a timely call to action from another area I treasure, across the country on the other coast.

This week’s still-raging Los Angeles wildfires happen to be just south, along the Pacific Coast Highway or the 101 freeway, from my beloved Pacifica Graduate Institute/alma mater. Fortunately, as of this morning the stray embers spread by enormously high winds have not ignited blazes in its Santa Barbara County location.

For the lover-of-driving in me, an indelible piece of the grad school years was getting to drive that breathtaking stretch of ocean-and-mountain highway, to and from Pacifica via LAX, as a cherished arrival-departure ritual. Over the years, so many landmarks, favorite stops, meeting spots, visits at new friends’ homes…

Yet I was just a part-time pilgrim. The entire area is home to countless faculty, former classmates, friends, readers — and years of memories — forever dear to me, many of them currently unreachable.

All of which adds urgency and meaning to this call to action (with thanks to friend Neel Stallings for sharing it):

From Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles:

The California wildfires have left countless families facing unimaginable loss. 💔 While first responders work tirelessly to protect lives, Habitat LA is preparing for the next step: long-term recovery.

With decades of experience rebuilding after disasters, we’re ready to provide lasting solutions for affected families. Your support can make all the difference.

Here’s how you can help:

💙 Donate to fund rebuilding efforts- bit.ly/4gLwlG5

💙 Sign up to volunteer- bit.ly/3W9KXGZ

💙 Sign up to receive victim support- bit.ly/402eNhK

💙 Share this post to spread awareness

Thank you to everyone who has donated, signed up to volunteer, and shared our resources with the community already in this time of need. We are truly grateful for your support.🙏

Please share this post so we can help as many as we can. Together, we can help families rebuild and restore hope for the future.💙

📷 Ethan Swope/image of the Eaton Fire

#CaliforniaWildfires #LosAngelesFire #HurstFire #EatonFire #PalisadesFire #SunsetFire #HabitatLA #RebuildingLives

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19ejjiHwRa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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And, that is all I have today.

🦋💙 tish

… it is important that awake people be awake,
or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;
the signals we give — yes or no, or maybe —
should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.
— William Stafford, “A Ritual to Read to Each Other”

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