Ah! The Rains after Sunshine

The drought in California is a known fact. The fire prone state has seen several major fires in its forests and populated areas last year. Early this year, we had to pack bags and run away from Santa Barbara to safer places. First to nearby Carpinteria where we spent one night. Afterwards, we sneaked closer to town, and passed two nights in a hotel closer to the watery ocean front, which, people said, would not be as much affected if the fire spread into the town.

So many houses had been gutted. The lovely green mountains had been scarred and left blackened by the devastation. A fear psychosis has become part of people who've lived here for long, now settled to the idea of the occasional fires as part of life. 

If it was not for my neighbour this year in May, when I saw for the firt time a forest fire's flaming tongues from the window of hour building, I'd have had an entirely different experience to talk about. She was kind enough to wait for me until I picked up my luggage, although I did not get time to change my clothes, and escorted me through the traffic jam and the blackening clouds that had shrouded the skyline that day.

This is the same neighbour who has been picking me up from my holiday job. And today, when I had an early morning shift, she dropped me too, in the midst of heavy rain. And when she arrived to escort me home after work, in the pouring rain, I hadrly had any words to thank her for all her help.

In both fire and rain, this neighbour has been with me. On the earlier occasion, my Equal Half was at work. And when he wanted to come to pick me up, he was caught up in the traffic jam like thousands of others. And today, in the rain, he is in Dallas for some work. If it was not for my neighbour, I would have had enormous inconvenience in this weather. Carrying my jacket, my umbrella, my water bottle, my googles in its case, my purse. etc etc.

It is like having a messiah come from heaven. Or a Good Samaritan.