The Sunday Art Auction

Thank you so very much to all who attended the art auction at Michael's On Main. Emails are coming in and everyone said they had a fabulous time! The multi-talented Michele Reed did a fantastic job putting together this event on such a short calendar. Thanks, Michele!!!
Ms. Reed tells me that more than $4,000 was raised, and the number is still climbing.

Many thanks also to the numerous artists, wineries, jewelers, and stylists who donated items for the auction.





More photo highlights:
Rico can't stop dancing


Laurel catches up with Kyra in the lounge

The band takes a break at the bar

Catherine enjoying the crowd

Bruce and Michelle:

Music by El Cuarto Verde, including brother Bruce on guitar

Shopping with CAbi

Yesterday, the generous folks at CAbi donated hundreds of items of clothing to victims of the Trabing and Summit fires. Set up in a relaxed shopping atmosphere in a classroom at the Freedom fire station, women affected by the fires were able to come and shop at our leisure with very attentive volunteers helping us out with size and style choices. It was a wonderful feeling to be so welcomed and to meet some of our neighbors for the first time, many of whom had to flee their homes with only the clothes on their backs. I walked out with many new clothing items for myself, and a few for my mother who is still not back in town yet.
Thanks so much!

Family Fire Fund

Our generous friends have set up a donation fund to help our family to relocate and rebuild. Donations of any amount can be taken at any Bay Federal Credit Union branch, or mailed to:

Begley Family Fund
acc#30923066
Bay Federal Credit Union
1481 Main Street
Watsonville, CA 95076

The Ghosts of Rooms

These places and things no longer exist.
Some time in the past Laurel took this still life photo of the table next to my bed, a fresh narcissus from our yard in an old bottle.

The blue chair in our little dining room. When we left for our trip, my damp swimsuit was draped here to dry.

Art Auction Benefit

Our friend Michelle has put together an art auction benefit for the Begley Family.
Please join us:

Sunday June 20 at 2pm.
Michaels on Main restaurant in Soquel, CA.

Music by Cuarto Verde
Local Art
Local Wines
Complimentary Appetizers
No Host Bar

See you there!

Mom's House

The place where we all grew up.

On Site

My first day on the land was Monday, June 23.
This is the place where our 2 bedroom cottage once stood:


Some of our things:


The remains of my vintage iron bed:


Across the driveway, Brother Russell looking through his room:


Brother Bruce, searching where his apartment once was, and overseeing the work crew:


Russell's old truck, next to the eucalyptus grove that proved to be our home's demise. Firefighters were at our site, fighting for our home, when these trees became engulfed to heights over their heads and they had to leave for their own safety.

Photos From Our Journey Home

These were taken on Sunday, June 22, at a middle-of-nowhere gas station somewhere along highway 5. It was blazing hot, and later we had to take a detour - highway 152 was closed due to fires that had been started by lightening the prior day on Mount Madonna, just a few miles from our house.
Laurel, niece Catherine, myself:

Laurel and me in front of our van. Everything we now own is inside.

June 19, Getty Museum

The day before the wedding, before the fire, we were visiting my aunt and decided to take the girls to the Getty.
Mom & "Auntie Pat:"

Laurel and Catherine on the tram:

Laurel and Catherine on the steps:

Laurel and me in the garden:


At one of the many gift shops, Laurel decided she wanted a gadget, a moving stand for holographic postcards, and I'd told her no, that we didn't need to buy more "stuff" that just sits around in our already cluttered house, and that she should just mail herself a postcard.

Capitola Beach, June 20

Here's the view from the cliffs above the Capitola Wharf:

This shot must have been taken at the very beginning of the fire.

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.