Like Nature, the Spirit Heals

My family and I live on Darby Avenue near Beaufait Avenue. After reading “From the Ashes” (Dec. 11), I want to share my feelings with the people of our community.

For over five years my family and I have lived in Porter Ranch near Aliso Canyon. When we moved here from West Los Angeles, we looked out over the city and its shimmering lights and felt the wind sweep over our faces. It was soothing and sweet with the smell of pungent brush, and we know this was where we belonged.

There was a surreal quality in living so close to the top, in knowing that the people in the Valley below were living their lives, as certainly as we were ours. Only their children’s laughter, closing doors, car horns, conversations, even their cries of anguish were all blown away on the wind into the twilight.

Shortly after last year’s fire, I stood at the edge of Aliso Canyon on Beaufait Avenue. The wind was blowing hard again, roaring in my ears, blocking out all other sounds. I had to go there to absorb the effects of all that had happened to us, to recount my family’s close call.

The remains of burned-out homes stood, gaunt and blackened, against a brilliant sky. Tears began to stream down my face for all that was lost, for the anguish the homeless families were feeling and for our loss of innocence in thinking that it could never happen to us.

Why do people rebuild from the ashes of their homes? During the last year, I have gotten to know so many of these neighbors and have been touched with the warmth of their friendships and their strength in the face of adversity. The people in this neighborhood did not have to search very far for a reason to stay.

Oh, this place of deep, pristine canyons and soaring hawks! We cherish the face of the hills around us. Like these hills, we may be a bit scorched and scarred, but the human spirit is also resilient. It recovers just as nature is reclaiming the fire-ravaged slopes. We have made friendships that will last a lifetime. In the end, we come to the same conclusion. We will live with the danger of fire and wind because it is worth risking it all just to be here.

JANIE STUCKER

Northridge