k0k0peli
Well-known member
I posted an earlier version of this a couple hours ago on Mandolin Cafe -- it applies here too.
The Amador-Calaveras Butte fire (see here), California's worst of the year, is now burning within seven miles from my home. Most of its spread is in another direction but evacuation is already being recommended only half a mile away. We had no power for two days; juice was restored only last night. I am not sure how long we can or want to remain. As soon as we receive a warning, we're outta here!
We spent yesterday gathering our most precious and irreplaceable possessions and loading them into our two SUV's. (We're on a dirt road in a remote mountain community.) That was a tough call as we have a museum-quality collection of ethnic crafts, a huge library, and of course a mass of musical instruments. And memories.
Ah, the instruments -- they're the point of this post. Which did I decide were "most precious and irreplaceable" ?? (Also the easiest to grab!)
* The bag of harmonicas and a handful of hand-carved fipple flutes.
* My two pro-quality guitars, an Ibanez Performance and an Ovation 12-string.
* An ancient Martin tiple; the Kala and Alvarez tenor 'ukes my wife and I gave each other; my cheap but lovely Harmonia concert 'uke.
* The cheap Harmonia mandola because it's not *too* big and a better mandola is still in my future.
* Grandpa's banjo-mandolin; my crafted KE Coleman mandolin; the old Lunacharsky mando I glued together and detuned for blues -- the inheritance, the costliest, and the funkiest. (The Rogue, Kay, and Harmonia mandos are Left Behind.)
What else are Left Behind? All the electric axes and musical electronics; they're all easily replaceable or just too big. Two dulcimers; two Cumbus o'uds (well, I might pack those, too); Orlando 5-string banjo; cheap Chinese-made 'ukes and Puerto Rican cuatro; Arte et Lutherie and Martin Backpacker guitars; and I don't know if I can load the old Varsity banjo-'uke. All the percussion. All the books, CDs, DVDs, records. Most of the paintings and pottery and weavings. Almost all cameras and lenses and other photo gear. Most of what we've accumulated over seven decades.
We have already decided that if our mountain house burns we will buy a motorhome and go nomad. But we would rather not.
My thanks in advance for expressions of concern. I'll ask: If YOU received an evacuation recommendation or order, what would you grab? Suppose your lead time was not measure in days, but in hours, or minutes? Yes, our instruments are literally "expensive kindling with strings" and none of them are worth a life. What would you choose?
An hour before noon now. The sky is dark and smoky. Ash fall is heavy. At least we have power again so we can run the AC and filter the air a bit. If the word comes, we can be one in ten minutes or less, heading uphill, away from the fire, to take refuge in Reno NV. But I hope my next message comes from right here. C'ya!
UPDATE: Still okay so far. Winds are favorable now but will be rather UN-favorable this afternoon. We expect we have time to pack a few more things and put the place in order but we might have only an hour's notice after the winds shift. The sky is awful. We fortunately have no pets or nearby young or elderly kin to round up. The closest relatives were safely away before the fire started; the next closest have a big house they've tried unsuccessfully to sell -- they'd be just as happy to see it burn down.
Whatever hapens, we are fortunate. Cheers!
The Amador-Calaveras Butte fire (see here), California's worst of the year, is now burning within seven miles from my home. Most of its spread is in another direction but evacuation is already being recommended only half a mile away. We had no power for two days; juice was restored only last night. I am not sure how long we can or want to remain. As soon as we receive a warning, we're outta here!
We spent yesterday gathering our most precious and irreplaceable possessions and loading them into our two SUV's. (We're on a dirt road in a remote mountain community.) That was a tough call as we have a museum-quality collection of ethnic crafts, a huge library, and of course a mass of musical instruments. And memories.
Ah, the instruments -- they're the point of this post. Which did I decide were "most precious and irreplaceable" ?? (Also the easiest to grab!)
* The bag of harmonicas and a handful of hand-carved fipple flutes.
* My two pro-quality guitars, an Ibanez Performance and an Ovation 12-string.
* An ancient Martin tiple; the Kala and Alvarez tenor 'ukes my wife and I gave each other; my cheap but lovely Harmonia concert 'uke.
* The cheap Harmonia mandola because it's not *too* big and a better mandola is still in my future.
* Grandpa's banjo-mandolin; my crafted KE Coleman mandolin; the old Lunacharsky mando I glued together and detuned for blues -- the inheritance, the costliest, and the funkiest. (The Rogue, Kay, and Harmonia mandos are Left Behind.)
What else are Left Behind? All the electric axes and musical electronics; they're all easily replaceable or just too big. Two dulcimers; two Cumbus o'uds (well, I might pack those, too); Orlando 5-string banjo; cheap Chinese-made 'ukes and Puerto Rican cuatro; Arte et Lutherie and Martin Backpacker guitars; and I don't know if I can load the old Varsity banjo-'uke. All the percussion. All the books, CDs, DVDs, records. Most of the paintings and pottery and weavings. Almost all cameras and lenses and other photo gear. Most of what we've accumulated over seven decades.
We have already decided that if our mountain house burns we will buy a motorhome and go nomad. But we would rather not.
My thanks in advance for expressions of concern. I'll ask: If YOU received an evacuation recommendation or order, what would you grab? Suppose your lead time was not measure in days, but in hours, or minutes? Yes, our instruments are literally "expensive kindling with strings" and none of them are worth a life. What would you choose?
An hour before noon now. The sky is dark and smoky. Ash fall is heavy. At least we have power again so we can run the AC and filter the air a bit. If the word comes, we can be one in ten minutes or less, heading uphill, away from the fire, to take refuge in Reno NV. But I hope my next message comes from right here. C'ya!
UPDATE: Still okay so far. Winds are favorable now but will be rather UN-favorable this afternoon. We expect we have time to pack a few more things and put the place in order but we might have only an hour's notice after the winds shift. The sky is awful. We fortunately have no pets or nearby young or elderly kin to round up. The closest relatives were safely away before the fire started; the next closest have a big house they've tried unsuccessfully to sell -- they'd be just as happy to see it burn down.
Whatever hapens, we are fortunate. Cheers!