“Smoke Fire,” 6″ x 9″ Watercolor Copyright © 2015 By Donna Lyons

By Marty Coffin Evans

I remember two calls that day. “Marty, do you know that Claraboya’s burning?” A little later another called, “Do you know Webb Canyon’s on fire? Is your home okay?” In both cases, I said “No” thinking I surely would have heard something from my husband or someone else about a fire in this California hillside area.

With growing concern, I left work not knowing what I’d find. When I reached the intersection to head up the hillside to our condo, the blocked road prevented me from going further. Several police and fire personnel routed concerned residents away from the hillside.

Knowing my dogs, Beau and Brummel, were in our condo, I became frantic. I wanted to go to my home and see if my dogs were okay. About that time, as my voice escalated in desperation and frustration, my husband David appeared “convincing” me to leave. I could say, he hauled me away!

Having no ability to get to our home, we went to nearby Tugboat Annie’s for dinner and waited for the closed road to re-open.  That night was also the first meeting for my advanced degree program. With no reason not to attend class, I headed to the college campus after dinner. I don’t remember much about that first evening as concentrating became difficult as I worried about my home and dogs.

When the class ended, I headed home grateful that I could drive there unimpeded. It all smelled very smoky outside and around our condo. Because of how we always secured our place (Fort Knox like we used to joke), no smoke had made it into our home. It smelled fresh without a hint of the fire.

The next morning, we looked out the back door on a charred landscape. Webb Canyon, behind our backyard, had functioned like a chimney moving the flames and smoke up and above us. Our two units would have been destroyed had the fire changed direction moving directly over us.

Had we been there during this fire, what would we have taken when asked to evacuate? What would we have grabbed as we frantically headed out the door?

Where were those special photo albums? Were any of the pictures on a computer? Did we have time to grab sentimental items – jewelry, anything small? Where did we keep those important documents?

What items held the most value – real or sentimental? Which of our things defined or described us?

We didn’t have to make those hasty decisions that day. Our condo, contents and furry friends remained unscathed.

Years later, friends talked about the strange items they grabbed when evacuating their home as the flames approached. She took a curling iron and hair dryer.

Later she commented their detailed evacuation plan remained on their computers. It became destroyed along with all the contents of their home.

Mother Nature provides us with unexpected challenges when natural disasters strike. Ready or not, plans or no plans, we’re confronted with what we would take as we flee our homes not knowing what we would find upon our return.

If I had to live our own California hillside fire experience again, I’m not sure I’d know what to take. Would you?

Copyright © 2018 By Marty Coffin Evans

August 2024

“Prediction,” 9″ x 10″ watercolor By Donna Lyons © 2010

By Marty Coffin Evans © 2023

“I don’t look like the other angels,” the littlest one said mournfully floating in the westward sky. “My shape isn’t the same, my wings don’t match and my halo isn’t round. My right wing looks long and stubby, my middle part is lumpy plus my other wing looks stringy,” the little angel lamented.

This little angel knew what they were supposed to look like. After all, having floated around for years in the clouds, the angel had seen many others and had a pretty good idea of the most right appearance.

The wise old angel knew this little one hurt because of being different. “Just because your wings don’t match and your halo isn’t round doesn’t mean you’re not special. You are very special, just wait. You’ll see, and, you’ll begin to change ever so slowly.”

Even as the little angel’s shape began changing, looking to the south, at least three, four and more, smaller angel-shaped clouds were forming. They were even more unique than what the little one’s had been.

“I wonder if they’ll begin to look like me,” pondered the little angel. By now, happier with a halo more round than oblong, the little angel floated happily along in the blue sky.

Slowly an opening in the right wing revealed a beautiful contrail with its two bright white streaks headed skyward toward the larger clouds above. “Maybe these clouds were adult angels whose shapes didn’t matter anymore,” mused the little angel.

Sure enough, the wise old angel’s prediction had come true. Even passing motorists had pulled over to watch the angel-shaped cloud’s transformation. While the little angel’s feathers had always been beautifully full, soon the wings filled out and became more symmetrical. “Just remember,” as the wise old angel had said, “Symmetry is over rated!”

This little angel happily floated ever closer to the large cloud, satisfied that being different was okay. Maybe that was especially so if others began looking like you. “The wise old angel was right after all,” said the little angel with a sigh.

July 2024

“Kawuneeche Spring,”

By Marty Coffin Evans © 2014

A loud thump and crash interrupted our quiet lunch. From our picture window overlooking the headwaters of the Colorado River we peered over the sill.

“Oh dear, another bird just flew into the window.” There on the flagstone patio lay a small Pine Siskin on its side.

Had the impact killed it? Was it stunned or dying?

We watched a few minutes wondering about its fate. A gentle breeze ruffled the small grey-brown and yellow feathers on its side.

It looks like it’s breathing, we thought.  “I’m going to find out,” my friend Donna said.

Out she went and carefully scooped up the little bird.  With a tender motion, Donna began stoking the back of its neck from the base of its head down to the shoulder and wing area.

As it remained quiet in her hand she waited for it to gain strength to stand. All the while she continued the gently stroking.  With a little wiggle, the Pine Siskin moved enough to step onto on her finger.

“Here, want to hold it?” Donna asked. “Put your finger out and it’ll move over.  Keep stroking the neck. That stimulates a little nerve at the base of the head.”

Gaining a strong footing it began moving its tiny toothpick size feet to different places on my fingers. With alert eyes, it looked around this new perch.

As storm clouds rolled in, accompanied by claps of thunder, we kept stroking this young bird.  Soon heavy rain drops began pelting us. We kept stoking the Pine Siskin until finally, wet enough ourselves, we placed it carefully on the nearby picnic table.

There it sat near several growing puddles of water. “It will fly when it’s ready,” Donna explained.

Sure enough, after a few wet moments, our little Pine Siskin fluffed its feathers, hopped to the edge of the picnic table and took flight.

We watched our little rescue fly off toward the verdant beauty of the Kawuneeche Valley leaving us with a sense of satisfaction, relief and happiness in knowing our small part in helping its return to a bird’s life.

June 2024

“Old Faithful” 6″ x 11″ Gouache, Copyright © 2023 Donna Lyons

By Marty Coffin Evans

Sometimes in attending a memorial service we gain a special insight into that beloved parent when family members share their remembrances. My friend’s daughters spoke eloquently in sharing their mother’s gifts, causing us to listen a little closer and perhaps learn something about our own lives.

These daughters wanted to live with their mother’s determination and style. They both admired how she could get things done and saw her power in being resourceful. This intrepid traveler mother shared her gift for organization with her daughters.

In their family, the idea prevailed that parenting travels across generations from parents to grandparents. This may seem logical but for these daughters, it had added importance as they shared many intergenerational times.

They were raised to know that they were smart enough to do anything they wanted to do or be.  Sounds like their lives had no ceiling with a “skies the limit” philosophy.  How challenging, and possibly a little frightening, for them realizing the world was there for the taking.

In their home, they learned their mom could fix everything.  She would soon send them out into the world again.  No doubt, that might have required dusting them off, wiping away their tears, and sending them on their way after a hug or two.

Their mother’s touch was a comforting and caring one. Her daughters saw she had a million ways to be a great mom and spiritual guardian. What a role model she was for her daughters.

On occasion, we may have said or heard others comment about “sounds like my mother.” Perhaps in saying this our love for our mothers goes on for countless years.

What special gifts do you remember from your mother or someone in that role? If possible, why not share your remembrances with them now for all to treasure.

Copyright © 2014 Marty Coffin Evans

May 2024

“Patty’s Ditch,” 6″ x 9″ Gouche, Copyright © 2023 By Donna Lyons

By Marty Coffin Evans

Robert Frost recognized this in his “Mending Wall” poem.  Fences keep us out of others property, contain our “stuff” and sometimes just separate us from each other.

For four years, our neighbor, an early morning riser, threw the newspaper over the fence each day when she returned home from walking her dogs. That tradition just changed when she moved out of the area for a new job. I still look for that paper and realize she’s walking her dogs on different streets thousands of miles away from Boulder.

We would laugh that we’d lived some of life’s major changes side by side separated only by that fence. We looked out for each other, shared in watching our homes when one was away and picked up mail or papers as needed. That’s probably a pretty standard list for being a good neighbor. Children learn about being good neighbors when they water or mow lawns, shovel walks and help when asked.

We’re often tempted to find our childhood homes, which provide us with a quick trip down memory lane. We recall the playmates, their parents, and the especially nice neighbors.  As adults, it may be interesting to see our old neighborhood and how someone’s redone our landscaping, remodeled or repainted our former home.

As the miles and years begin to separate us, good neighbor times remain ready for a quick reminiscence. Getting together helps us reconnect with times past as we reflect on both life’s changes and the joys experienced while being the best of neighbors.

Copyright © 2007 By Marty Coffin Evans

“Multicolored Reflections,” April 2024