I woke up to the news that the fire was more
contained and still only 30 structures involved. I have to say that I
have been so incredibly impressed with the fire departments of Santa Barbara
the the other fire departments around Santa Barbara for the efficiency with
which they have fought this fire. The evacuation order still stands,
but it was beginning to look like it would be lifted soon.
By 6 a.m., that was an unknown, but,
undaunted, Joe, Norm, Tom and a friend headed off to the golf course.
The rest of lazed around the house. Tom left the golf game to take Bri
to a softball game. Given the projected triple digit temperatures, we
all opted out of going to watch her.
So this was going to be a day when we did not
see the kids, which was fine. It became "immigrant day," as everyone
started talking about the Irish ancestors who had immigrated to this
country. Alice Nan brought out their grandmother's naturalization
certificate.
Then Alice brought out a coat that had
belonged to her grandmother, who got it from Evalyn Walsh McLean, for whom
she was a ladies' maid. Rumor has it that this is skunk fur.
McLean owned the Hope Diamond (her husband
owned the Washington Post). It is family lore that once when
the McLean family was traveling to Florida, they packed the diamond in
Walt's uncle's suitcase because they figured no would-be robber would look
in a little kid's suitcase for it.
By 4 p.m., they finally announced that they
were lifting most of the mandatory evacuations so we could all breathe
easier that the picnic could go on after all. Walt and I went to the
grocery store to order Tom's birthday cake.
We decided that the weather had cooled so
much we could order and eat pizza on the patio, which was just what the
doctor ordered.
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