The smoke gets in my eyes, nose, ears...

The North State fires are wrecking havoc on us all these days as the forests burn. Wow, who would have guessed we’d be inundated like this?

With all forms of firefighters becoming scarce, it looks as if we will have to resort to other resources – temporary employment services for some retirees and men and women with some firefighting skills. We go to other areas to fight fires, but I understand the ones we have helped in the past are battling new blazes elsewhere.

I have a swamp cooler at home that is bringing in the smoke. So, I leave it on all day while I’m away and turn it off when I get home after work, leaving only the ceiling fans to cool things down.

One morning, ash particles had fallen on my car, so you know the air is thick with stuff that isn’t good to breathe. I’ve been staying indoors for the most part. When I’m out and about, you can bet the air conditioner in my car is on. Then, it’s a mad dash to my destination walking across the parking lot. I did pick up a dust mask at the hardware store and have resorted to using it when I’m forced to be outdoors for any significant length of time.

I guess we’ve been pretty fortunate up here in the North State. Now, it’s our turn to deal with disaster on a pretty impacting scale. It just goes to show that the world we live in can be dealt a pile of issues.

Now, maybe somebody will listen to the call to thin our forests and manage them appropriately. If we have to deal with this kind of devastation too often, it will surely begin taking a toll on lives.

I hope our bright-minded environmentalists are taking a second look at how the future should be addressed and step back a few pegs so those who know how to deal with natural resources can do their jobs.

Too much of one way isn’t always a good thing. You need balance and not runaways.

When the forests are thinned periodically, it is much healthier for all – wildlife included. My guess is that more wildlife die in forest fires than any other way, although I would like to see some documentation.

I guess right now is that those who are unemployed and able to work alongside experienced firefighters and National Guard units might want to pursue that avenue. And I would think the agencies involved should want to have the help.

When the going gets tough, the lazy need to get off their sofas and pitch in and help the tough. It might even toughen their constitutions.

Major disasters call for major help and I guess we weren’t ready for this one.

With smoke in the sky, visibility is extremely limited these days. So, we probably won’t see the 3rd or 4th of July events happen this year. Tehama County has already scratched theirs. Anderson has had high winds cancel it’s July 3rd Anderson Explodes! night-time display of lighting across the sky.

Nothing new to Anderson and it will survive.

There is something about tragedy that gives us a sense of what is truly important. All the glitz and glamour, all the fun and frolic has a sobering affect on multitudes. And, I think it’s necessary in this day and age. Take a look at what is truly important to us and suddenly our small whims and wants must take a back seat to the world around us.

Now and then, giving up, letting go, moving on are decisions we must make.

So, I guess I’ll stick it out and ride this thing to the end, because guess what? We don’t have much choice here.

“Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” is a pretty ugly song here in the North State.