Sounding the Alarm

Figure 1: Sounding the Alarm AOP Sweatshirt

What I’m about to tell you is not to garner attention or take away from victims and families who lost their homes, possessions and mementos.  But it is to tell what I went through on a business trip to Los Angeles and my 5-day stay which was supposed to be seven, but we will get to that later.  I had decided to drive down instead of taking a plane from San Jose to Beverly Hills for my stay at a boutique hotel in the area; a 5 ½ hour drive on a good day.  My first driving adventure by myself and a long haul one at that.  I considered it a rite of passage into ADULTHOOD.  A challenge I was taking on at this late stage in my life. So, I looked at it with trepidation and excitement at the same time.

As I entered Los Angeles County on the 405, the energy felt really strange, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  But, a day later it would all make sense. As you may or may not know, I am an Energy Healer and therefore sensitive not only to the energy of others but places, rooms and facilities as well.  This sensitivity would come in handy later.

Santa Ana Winds – The Second Coming

Figure 2: Second Coming of Christ AOP Sweatshirt

As it was a work vacation of sorts, I spent Tuesday morning in bed working on my laptop.  My usual routine is to create 1 to 3 new designs everyday while fitting in meetings with my team and others, handling any crisis, responding to emails etc.  Every day and every stay is a work day for me and Tuesday would be no exception. It was from my bed-office that I would see the news report of the first fire to start, the Palisades at 10:30 am.  What I didn’t know at the time was that the Santa Ana winds had already started gusting.  By Tuesday afternoon, the city of Los Angeles would declare a state of emergency at a news conference that I missed but later learned of. The strongest wind gusts were expected to reach up to 80 mph and even 100 mph in the mountains and foothills. They were declared to be “life threatening” by the National Weather Service.

The winds were gusty (30 mph) by the time I made it to the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) to take in the collections and get some inspiration for new art designs for my store, SingleTree Lane.  On the way, I would be able to see the dark plumes of smoke in the mountain skyline; my first glimpse of just how severe the fire had become in such a short space of time.  Seeing the smoke as I headed to the LACMA brought up memories of driving to Santa Barbara during the Santa Ynez fires (Thomas Fire) where the flames were clearly visible from the roadway back in 2017; as the fire raged, people could be seen on the side of the road taking pictures.  It was surreal to say the least.

Let me tell you, when I exited my Uber by the LACMA lights, if I had been any lighter in weight, I might have blown away but it was my hair that took the brunt of the attack.  By the time I left to get back to my hotel a few hours later (and after ending with the Picasso collection) the winds had picked up great speed. When I got to the Cameo hotel (formerly Mr C’s) and safely inside, the gusts were already at over 50 mph.  You could clearly hear it from inside the dining room of the hotel’s restaurant, in which I had taken refuge to have a small bite to eat before retiring to my room.  I had taken a call while at my table and the person on the other end could clearly hear the howling of the wind and the sound of the windows which were being battered. The wind was ALIVE and I was getting quite nervous about not only the ferocity of the winds but the real threat of losing power and being so close to an active fire…less than 10 miles away.

I felt like I was in the middle of a fight between good and evil in the skies.  It was dark and scary and LOUD…and UNRELENTING. I would be awakened several times throughout the night and placed into sheer panic each time.  My sleep was NOT peaceful to say the least. But my deep breathing exercises and mini meditations helped to calm me enough to get back to sleep.

Triangle OF HELL – The Crucifixion

Figure 3: Crown of the Crucifixion AOP Sweatshirt

The timeline of events are important to understand the gravity of what was occurring all around me.  Tuesday the 7^th starts with the Palisades Fire at 1030 am, then the Eaton Fire at 630 pm and ending with the Hurst Fires 1030 pm.  Despite the Palisades fire, I had decided by late afternoon on Wednesday to Uber to The Grove, a famous landmark in Los Angeles and within minutes of my hotel.  It was eerily quiet with less than 100 people making the trek with many wearing masks; I had left mine back at the hotel by accident.  I had come prepared for just about anything with a few masks with filters, snacks, a safety flashlight, a taser and pepper spray. Needless to say, I don’t travel light and safety is a huge concern with me.  I even pack a window breaker in my car in case it becomes a submersible and I need to escape quickly.  My OCD as much as it can produce anxiety also keeps me ready for just about any situation at home or away.

I ended my daytime excursion by visiting the Beverly Center.  I was bound and determined to take in whatever sites I could as most everything I had wanted to visit was closed down (The Getty and the La Brea Tar Pits).  The Beverly Center, another landmark, was equally as empty as The Grove and pretty much a ghost town.  Many shops were closed and there wasn’t much to do.  But I had dinner plans with a friend and my energy was already waning so I decided to do what most people do to get a quick pick-me-up, I stopped at a Starbucks to get a dark roast drip.  As luck would have it, the Starbucks was right next to what I hoped would be my last stop for the day, Bloomingdales.

Time to PANIC – the Great Escape

It was just as I sat down to relax at the Starbucks that all of our phones would go off with an evacuation warning for our area.  Everyone began exiting in a panic.  I was the most panicked as I wasn’t familiar with the area or the mall and didn’t know how to get out.  With quick thinking, I decided to enter the top floor of Bloomingdales and try to find the elevator.  As luck would have it, I wouldn’t have far to go and wound up right near the elevators; something I found out by asking one of the clerks in my clearly distraught state.  She would prove to be a lifesaver as she was leaving at the same time and helped me to find a way out from the parking garage to catch the Uber I had called as soon as the alarm had sounded. By the time my Uber picked me up and I was safely loaded and back on the road, we received notification that the alert had mistargeted the area.  It was a false alarm that would later be talked about on the live news stations. My nerves were pretty much shot by the time I arrived back at the hotel.  I was ready to have a much-deserved drink at the bar but thought better of it as I needed to keep my wits about me in case an evacuation were to be declared at any point in the night or overnight as I slept.

My OCD to the rescue, once again, I decided to pack up my essentials in case I needed to make a quick exit of it.  I had to think about what I could easily carry out via the elevator or stairs. Stairwells are usually fire safe; so I planned to leave that way if necessary.  And, my event scheduled for later in the week had already been cancelled.

An Escape Plan – Have Van Will Travel

Figure 4: Cool Vibes Only Hippie Floral Van AOP Sweatshirt

Wednesday leads to Thursday and a new fire has begun.  By Thursday the 9^th at 230 pm, the Kenneth fire erupts. By this time, I’m in a clear panic and have come to a place of acceptance should I be engulfed in flames and have to become one with the earth.  Again, my OCD INTJ brain comes to the rescue.  After distracting myself with work and creating art, another way I’ve found to ease my anxiety or worry, I pack up everything.  I’ve become an active watcher of the area fire maps and have even signed up for Palisades alerts courtesy of Google.

I contemplated pre-loading up my SUV that night in preparation for what might need to be a very quick exit.  Between the winds and now four fires raging all around me, my anxiety is quite high.  But being the energy person I am, I decide to meditate with my crystals; another preparedness device I always travel with. After this brief meditation session, I begin to look at alternative routes back home.  Perhaps I should travel further south to San Diego (3 hours away) or go east towards Vegas (a 5 ½ hour drive).

The only thing still keeping me in town was a Zoom I had previously scheduled with one of my contract consultants the next morning.  And I didn’t want to drive at night either through the vast wasteland that is 405.  It cuts down driving time but you’re literally in the middle of nowhere with not much around; and all I could think about were the 500 serial killer truck drivers being tracked by the FBI (you do know the stories about how many are suspected of murdering people https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/headlines-500-serial-killers-being-tracked-by-the-fbi-what-is-common-between-them-and-why-is-this-a-serious-issue/articleshow/110917769.cms?from=mdr ). I wasn’t even sure if there were lights on the freeway because I am not familiar with the area, and I’ve never made this drive alone.  I am not only a woman but one of a physically petite size.

The Grand Escape – 405 for the Win

Figure 5: Girl on Blue Highway AOP Sweatshirt

So, without a shower and promptly following my meeting, I contacted the Valet to get my bags and bring my car around while I checked out early.  I had already prepaid for my hotel stay via Expedia so I was SOL as far as a refund is concerned; and I figured a resident might need it more as all the local hotels were booked up by people and families fleeing the fires. Friday was starting off with a well-planned escape.  As luck would have it, just as I got on the 405, I would receive a fire evacuation notification; with smoke clearly visible off to my left.  By the time I got home that evening, I would find out that the 405 had been closed down due to fires. I had just barely made it out in time.  It was at that point that I decided to record the events of the week.  You might say it was a coping mechanism but I sincerely felt it needed to be recorded.  I didn’t lose a home or belongings like the real victims of the fires but I had experienced daily anxiety and stress and maybe even some PTSD of having to be on daily high alert.  My central nervous system is still recovering.

As LA Burns – Charity Begins at Home

Figure 6: California is Burning DTG Sweatshirt

It is Saturday and more fires have erupted, and more acreage and homes destroyed; and lives lost. I hope this article will serve to bring even more attention to what people are going through in SoCal.  Everyone has been impacted in one way or another who live in Los Angeles County and their troubles and pain are just beginning.  It will be years of wrangling with insurance carriers (for those who still have insurance as policies had been recently cancelled) and even more years ahead of getting permits to clean up and rebuild; some may never return to their homes and may choose to even move out of California entirely. I am safely back at home in NorCal but my heart still bleeds for all involved.

As I have indicated, I heal and deal by creating art and putting my emotions to digital paper.  And, I take those creations and turn them into wearable art pieces that are functional, beautiful and conversation pieces. As part of that effort, I have created a series of sweatshirts (available in 11 colors) and tees (available in 4 colors) to support people in SoCal. Each purchase will give 50% to the Pledgeling Southern California Fire Relief Fund which splits funds between the American Red Cross and Direct Relief.  As a California brand, I feel it is my duty and my pleasure to support our fellow residents.