11 Days

It's been 11 days. We're all looking for housing. Mom (67) is still at her sister's house in Chino, awaiting the first insurance checks in order to have something to live on. Brother Bruce (49) says he'll have a place soon. Russell (48) is still camping on the land. Sister Chris (42) is staying in a motor home on a friend's small farm. Her instinct is to return to the land, perhaps in one of the motor homes that's being offered. Her eldest son (21) had mostly moved out by the time of the fire, and he's caring for their cat. Her daughter (19) works at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk park and has been placed in their summer residency program with housing nearby. It's her first experience away from home. Sister's youngest son (17) is attending summer school and staying at a friend's house.

As for my girl (10) and me (44,) we've been staying at a very close friend's house, my old housemate who attended Laurel's birth, whose home is full of kids and dogs. It's been perfect for Laurel, she's happy and feels at home here. Next week we're housesitting for 10 days, in a big home where there are pets and an 11 yr old's room full of toys. I am of course looking for a long term solution, but rentals in this county are notoriously expensive.

It's strange, all of us being scattered like this. And yet we're in touch and talk to each other more in the last 10 days than we did when we were living next to each other. As I said before, we have each other's backs, and it's showing now more than ever.