THANK YOU SANTA CLAUSE! THANK YOU SANTA BARBARA!

“My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place – police, firefighters and members of our armed forces.”  Sidney Sheldon

Holidays can bring more than joy. Stress, overspending, anxiety, trying to please everyone. What if we let down our expectations and formulated different traditions? I mean the one thing we can count on is change, right?

Our little town of Santa Barbara California has been involved in a fierce fire storm. This storm has affected many beyond the town-folk and the tourists. At one point we had close to nine thousand fire fighters and experts present to conquer the second largest fire storm in the history of California. We quickly gained the reputation of being the most cooperative/supportive town that the firefighters had experienced. I am proud of that. We honored those that came far away to save our town. We listened when we were told to evacuate. We wore our appointed masks. We helped one another and offered many free services to assist the firefighters and responders. There are signs everywhere thanking these wonderful people. Our gratitude is deep and heartfelt.

Some people love California, others may think it will land in the ocean with one big quake. California has been my home for generations. I am comfortable with all the nah-sayers. From the boarder of Mexico to the boarder of Oregon, and all borders east, I love this state!

That being said, we are bone dry. Our fire conditions have effected holidays, our economy, and all that that implies.

What the fires did for me is help me to restructure my expectations and understood that the Christmas dinner table will have different feet under it. That the gift giving had to be done in a smoke filled town with masks on our faces, that limited our shopping. It made me grateful for clean air, and brought me back to understand the simple things like love, kindness, and community, that is what is truly important.

I do not curse Thomas Fire although it stole a precious life that is horrific and immeasurably sad. Although a few homes were lost, the battle was by and large won! Without some of the technology that was put into use such as, but not limited to, helicopters with the ability to seek out hot spots at night, surely Thomas Fire would have stolen much more.

I celebrate the love and gratitude that was brought about, bringing us together as a community. Santa Clause showed up and I think he must have helped the firefighters.

Thank you Santa Clause, thank you Santa Barbara!

My Mantra: “From the ashes we will build”

Happy New Year

From My Heart to Yours

Katie L Lindley

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