Many years ago, I had a friend who's son came up with pink ears and a lacy pink mark on his body. He was a very white child, so this showed up rather brilliantly. He seemed fine, but she found out he had 5ths disease.
From WedMD: Fifth disease got its name many years ago when it was the fifth on a list of the six recognized childhood rash-forming illnesses; the others include rubella, measles, scarlet fever, chickenpox, and roseola infantum. It also is called slapped-cheek disease because of the characteristic initial appearance in children
Needless to say, the Girl got it. It was not a bad illness, and we managed it well. In fact, it was easy and I remember clearly it keeping a certain neighborhood mom away from my house for a while. I may have milked that for a couple of weeks.
Here in my home town, we have a 5th season. Fire Season. It comes when it wants during the year, and may come a couple of times. It is usually accompanied by the Santa Ana winds from the north east and it will create the worst panic I have ever personally witnessed.
My mother in law lives to the north and the access to her place is normally through one major freeway. However, if that one is closed, we can access through 2 other freeways and one connection road. During 5th season, one or the other is usually closed due to fire and it makes it impossible to reach her within 3 hours. One year, the powers in charge, evacuated the whole town, not a bad idea since it was burning down, but she can't drive now like she did then and she didn't handle that one well at all.
This week, both entrances to the town were closed at one point or another. I called her when the fires first started and asked if she would like me to come and pick her up now. It will take an hour to get there, but roads are open. She said no. By the time we got the news that both entrances were closed, if we could have gotten there, it would have taken hours due to the traffic jams of all the evacuees trying to get out the area. She ended up staying in her home, but this is the sort of anxiety that is difficult for me to handle, so Wednesday to Friday were sleepless nights and anxiety days for me. But, again, the heat may have had something to do with that.
On Wednesday, the temps were 102 and humidity was 12, Thursday we had a cooling at 98 and humidity at 7, Friday was 104 and humidity came up a bit at 14. The winds were wickedly blowing every direction, and I saw may "dust devils" along the way. By Saturday, we had the winds die down and some of the usual May weather system come in form the ocean. What a relief it is to see that, rather than the smoke trails front he fires. Humidity came up and the fires are nearly out. Now the investigation begins with cause. At this point they have found one body, probably a transient, and I am hoping no more. Plenty of houses were destroyed.
Some of our tenants were fearful and kept calling us for direction. Finally I told them to put all the important stuff by the door and if they get the word to evacuate, that that with them. I have decided that for me and my family, everything is going to be on a PDF in my laptop, easier to carry. No, you can't take your furniture unless you start packing it up now, and if you feel like you are in danger, don't wait for the evacuation order. No, the owner is not responsible for your personal belongings if they burn up, please take your lease so you can read this while stuck in traffic. Lastly, no we will not ask the owner to pay for your hotel while you are displaced due to a wildfire.
And then there are the calls that the a/c isn't working. According to your lease, you don't have a/c. Then they tell me that it is smokey outside. I honestly just closed my eyes and had to think about what to say as a response. I don't have a/c, and I can see the horizon. Do what you have to do to stay safe. It isn't easy to tuff out wild fires, but they come every year. Preparation is the key, not panic. Fire safety begins with a plan, so I guess I will put a plan together and email to the all the tenants across the county and I am sure that none of them will heed it and come 5th season again, they will panic.
Now, off to dust the ash off the furniture and clean the floors and windows. Maybe tomorrow I can wash my car.
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