Talk Like A Pirate Day is coming up. Don’t forget (like I do every year).

That is all.

And it was a little too close to home this time.

The mountain behind my house is black. Apparently it swept along the mountain, coming from the valley and moving toward the ocean.

I was at Adam’s house at the time, and found out when my mom called me after it was safe. The house is fine–the firefighters managed to keep it back far enough. Mom told me how she and dad were watching Big Brother when they heard sirens stop close by. Both of them went out and hosed down the roof while the firefighters took care of things in the back yard. Mom said that at a little past midnight everything was okay again.

This morning firefighters came back to check for hot spots. I cannot emphasize enough the coolness factor of these men and women. They have to deal with so much stress and danger, and they do their job. These days my faith in humanity has been eroding. People like firefighters gives me hope. And heros.

My family is safe. My house is intact. But I mourn for one of my cats. He’s been sick, and since the fire hasn’t come home. If he is alive, I pray that he finds his way home. If not. I’ll miss you, Calvin.