Thanks for all your concern ... but all is good!
Tuesday, February 17, turned out to be a more than usually busy day. The plan was to head to Ron and T's so that Wednesday evening we could head to a hotel near DFW Airport so as to be "on time" for the first of our three Thursday flights (Dallas to Houston, Houston to San Fran and then on to Osaka Japan).
Packing had been done over the course of a couple weeks .... one carry on bag and one "personal item", all sized for a much smaller and lighter person. However, my well work Trask "Blue Buffalo Plaid" travel bag does qualify for carry on, and one of my old canvas "Buffalo Gold" briefcases managed the rest.
Bob had a small procedure so I was trying not to screw up shipping .... which I seem to be able to do with uncanny regularity. But I was expecting the shipment of our knife roll sets ... which a good number of very patient folk had been waiting on for over 60 days.
They arrived (dang they are SO nice) ... at least 2 of the 3 styles did. They got packed and shipped. Then the drive South and East of about 5 hours from Goodnight to Weatherford. No glitches; smooth sailing and safe arrival. Did drop off a bunch of bison meat for an annual church wild game supper in Quanah, Texas.
Ron had made a brazed beef stew with some of his excellent and filling homegrown chuck roast. T's parents came and we were having a great evening, as we often do.
Then the texts started coming. "Are you OK?" "Are you safe?". What the ....??? I had no idea about the fire is "Goodnight, Texas".
Quick check with neighbors let me know that the fire has apparently started at the Truck Turnout - Rest area on US 287 ... about 3/4 mile east from our houses .... and gone on east and north.
The X is where our little community is. We, thankfully are west. Much of the land is just open pasture and I have not heard about structure of animal losses ...yet. Fire spread to about 9000 acres as of this morning ... and only about 25% contained. We're not the only ones living with this always present danger. We have, so fortunately, been spared 4 times in the 15 years I've been there.
Thank you all for your concern.
I know that helpless feeling when I have
texted friends in areas that the "News" says is under some kind of situation. If there is any good news it is that once an area has a "burn scar", there is nothing left for the "next time".
It now has a name; "8-Ball Fire". You would think we would all have better things to do than name fires ...
In the meantime we are working on the last details for the trip, just hoping we don't create any major situations before or during .... after is not a big deal. Again, thank you all for caring and sharing this journey.
Cecil