From Ashes to Inspiration

One of my dearest friends and her husband lost everything in a 2020 wildfire. A few short hours after evacuating, their house where they’d lived for 22 years was gone. What was left was six inches of ash inside the former foundation with only a few recognizable items remaining: a pair of pinking shears where her sewing room stood; a license plate in the garage space. Other recognizable belongings were just shapes of what they’d been—what was left of a Victrola leather bound album of 78s amazingly outlined in ash; pages from a travel book displaying text on the charred pages. Once touched, there was nothing.

It’s human nature to have regrets, but my friend and her husband decided the fire would not steal the memories held in their hearts—of handmade heirlooms, photo albums, and one-of-a kind keepsakes now gone. Instead, they focused on the enjoyment they’d had in not keeping these precious things locked away: they’d been cherished and used for many years. That positive attitude helped them begin to heal.

Though many who lost homes in that horrific fire decided to pull up stakes, they chose to re-build. Finding a rental in town, they set up their temporary home with borrowed furniture, donated clothes and odds and ends. My friend, who is a seasoned quilter, set aside a small space designated for sewing—but the loss felt enormous. She missed working on several unfinished projects, and writings in her journal that referenced each quilt she’s sewn (and there were many). Somehow, they managed to navigate through it all. The pain of losing their house and contents was unbearable, but their love for each other was stronger.

Today they live in their rebuilt home, slightly reformatted, built on the foundation’s original footprint. It’s open, spacious, welcoming. The process took longer than they thought and cost more than they budgeted. As things came together their tears came less often. Gratitude nourished their hearts as they steadied each other on their healing journey.

My friend just signed documents to start an innovative business, charting new and renewed paths of creativity. Her contemporary website is elegant, fascinating, touching. All this while working full time with only a handful of late-night hours to dedicate toward her artistic passions.  Her resolve and resourcefulness, coupled with dependableness and consistency, is who she is. I’m awed and humbled by her thoughtfulness as she has literally gone form ashes to inspiration.