We live in a high fire risk area and there are two fires burning a few kilometres from us. We are not in immediate danger and may not be this time but I am packing my emergency escape bag anyway. It's a mental thing. I am a Rat and you know that they always have an escape route worked out long before everybody else - just ask a sailor. What can I fit into the bag? Yes, no, someone else in the family will have that photo. Identity papers, qualifications, credit cards, birth certificates - one file. Years of journals - how am I going to carry all of those in one sports bag? My thesis is in cyberspace but my paintings aren't - nothing can protect 5 years of work and I can't shift 4 x 2.4 metre square paintings anyway. Books? Well, I have the references in my thesis. What else? The hard-drive of course, but that will be a last minute grab. That's it really. Maybe some clothes.
I was going through papers and old photos and found this one - a blast from the relatively recent past. She rang me today to ask me about the fire. And then I found the photo. It wasn't her fault - I asked her to wear the dress, but she looks good in it anyway. She still loves books, so the context is perfect. In retrospect it now seems prophetic - literary scholar and all that. I haven't asked her permission so I haven't named her. I will let her identify herself if she is willing. And I will remove it if she doesn't like it - but having it in cyberspace does protect the image at least.....
10 comments:
I'm amazed my nose was so straight in those days!
What a strange night. I'm so glad you went home to gather your bits. In the event of catastrophe, grab those stories of the Gap, throw them off the veranda and commit them to memory (just in case). Remember that the Old People have been doing it for millennia.
x
I realise its a bit late (or hope it isn't) as you folks live in mostly wooden houses, is it possible for you to have deep brick lined cellars with steel lids to store your goodies ? Just a thought.
I do hope the fires will miss your place, shall be thinking of you.
I didn't realise your nose wasn't straight ST. It is a nice pic of you though.
Yes, it is an archetypal behaviour for inhabitants of this country alright. Very few possessions and the ability to carry what you need.
Thanks Mr Heron, some people do build 'bunkers' or cellars into their houses as you describe and I don't know why we don't do more of that, but it just isn't a culture in this country to do it. Maybe the cost. The fire is now under control but I did stay home all day yesterday when I would possibly have gone to the beach! We are just waiting for some rain tonight and hopefully that will settle it down completely.
It is a lovely pic, MF, thanks for putting it up. Cellars are a great idea Mr Heron. There is one out at my bush block that was probably the remains of the old pub.
Joan said:
What an awful task: to decide what to take in case of a fire? When the season comes in with a blast like it has over the past few days I guess it will be a question on a lot of minds. We can no longer rely on "it won't happen to me" attitude.
Re: what to take in case of a fire. It was strange going through the process yesterday because I realised that I simply had to let go of just about everything because if I did need to go, I wouldn't be able to take more than I could carry. It was quite easy to imagine and also therefore easy to make the selection - journals, thesis on-line, some photos. If I couldn't take all of the rest, then it wasn't worth trying to grab anything extra. I have had to do this mentally during my lifetime a few times and I am amazed at how once I have that mindset, I can let go. But I feel I still need my journals to keep unravelling my personal journey.
It's never good to have your journals burn.
My sister drove away from her house with Billy Idol's 'White Wedding' playing on the radio. Start again ...
God, how is she doing? I guess it all just seems a bit surreal for her at the moment.
Michelle, this is such a powerful post. The image and the thought of fire so close by. Bushfire season is a terrifying time for us all in summer in Australia, but especially for those who live in vulnerable areas.
The photo is also mesmerizing, a recent photo? and yet it has an other worldly feel.
The photo is of Sarah Toa. We have been friends for many years and this was taken more than 15 years ago I think. I was in a 'Pre-Raphaelite' phase of painting and wanted some images to work from so yes, a deliberate attempt to make them old world and Romantic.
The fire thing - yes, just seems to be getting worse with climate change unfortunately.
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