As many of you know, George and I are now living at the far West edge of Washington State. A while ago, I wrote about the fog that often rolls in at dusk, reminding me of that great movie “The Ten Commandments.” Really, remember when the people were instructed to paint lambs’ blood on the posts and lintels of their doors? Those households would be passed over and the firstborn’s life of that family would be spared. In the movie an eerie finger-like cloud steeled across the night searching for unbelievers. Well, if you know your bible, you know the outcome.

Today, around midday, the sky and the air outside became sort of yellow. I could smell smoke, so I closed the windows and the back door. Yellow Foot came inside. If I hadn’t known better, I would have been a bit worried, as fires are raging through Oregon and Washington State. The bad news is that these fires have destroyed thousands and thousands of acres in Oregon and Washington. The wind has carried their smoke over to the Pacific Ocean, thus the yellow sky and air. This evening, as the sun began to dip toward the horizon, all one could see was an orange sphere hanging above the earth. A perfect ball for just a moment, then disappearing, as the veil of yellow smoke closed in on it.

Yes, there is a lot of bad news; I feel for the folks who have lost everything. Many lives have been lost and I cannot imagine what people are going through right now. California is also battling raging fires. Those folks have lost so much, as well. The good news is that the fires won’t make it over to Ocean Shores, or to where our kids live. I don’t think. The wind is supposed to change, which will direct the flames and the smoke away from the coast. This, of course, is good news for those living on the coast, but our good fortune does not out way the destruction East and South of us. My heart goes out to all of those dear people.

Be safe out there. God bless and watch over you.