Gee Bud, more than 100 fires! Wow!!! In September 1970, my young son, my wife and I were living in San Diego County when the San Diego-Laguna Brush Fire, which started 30 miles away from our home, came into our neighborhood and burned our house completely to the ground. We barely escaped. We drove our two vehicles out of the area and I remembered at the last minute to throw a footlocker full of important papers and family pictures, including our wedding pictures, in one of the car's trunks. Other than these things we left with only the clothes we were wearing. Many other homes were lost. People were hurt and homeless. When we returned to the area it looked like a war zone. Looking at the complete ash rubble of once was our home, it hit me how quickly these things can happen, and, it sharpened my view of the most important things in life. Obviously, first and foremost, is human life. Second, I would say individual good health. Next, would be family. However, you can have life, including good health, but if you don't have family, you still don't have much of anything. Third, would be your personal and religious faith--the glue that binds. Fourth, would be your extended families, friends, community, country, and Mother Nature the world over. It takes kin, friendly help, "a village", your country(God Bless America!), and this fragile big blue marble that astronauts look back at from far out in space which, by the way, completely humbled them and they soon grasped the full understanding of the word 'home'. They also spoke words like: "you also see and realize that there really are no borders." Fires, and other tragic disasters, also have no borders. Fire has been a friend and a serious danger to man from our very beginnings. And, will probably be there at the end. In the mean time, asking for help in our prayers and dealing with such things everyday is unfortunately our cross to bear. I know I've gotten a little carried away here and I appreciate you letting me pull your ear for a while. I also wanted to mention the important 'material' things in life to save from fires, etc. They are: old family pictures, old family documents, old family hand-downs and mementoes. Every family historian knows, or should know, to remember these things. To me, these are the most valuable material things I possess. Everything else can be replaced. Enough said. Your friend and great admirer of your colorful and interesting travel stories, Deane Oliver Craig, Sr., aka 'DOC' Las Vegas, Nevada(Glitter Gulch of the so-called New Wild West) On Tue, 19 Sep 2000 21:01:38 EDT BnLFAMILY@aol.com writes: > Please pray for the people of Oklahoma. It seems we are to be burned > out. > More than 100 serious fires across the state today...................