There are those who believe that these fires started off with a little help from some miscreant or two. What are your thoughts? I won’t say whether I believe that is what happened, I hope not. But I also do hope that those responsible are caught so they may be punished for the pain they have caused. How do you deal with anyone who has no idea what they are causing? How can they understand what kind of destruction this has caused to so many. Perhaps you have a thought, as for me I cannot offer any suggestions.
One of the earliest records of fire in our country was during the War of 1812 when Major General Robert Ross, who was under the orders of England, was ordered to burn one building at a time rather than holding captured ground. While the television was bringing the fire into our living room, we try to come up with a new plan about every few minutes that someone might notice. What a terrible calamity California has suffered through the past few days! Of course, like a lot of my friends, I couldn’t take my eyes off the television, abhorrent as it seems.
Of course not everyone knows that I too have suffered serious loss due to fire. Having been involved in and out of a major fire, I can tell you that any fire is a terrible calamity. There is nothing left when a fire visits. One of the duties I had as owner of a gun shop was bluing the barrels and fitting the stock/modified trigger pull. These are skills that have to be learned and require particular skills, special containers and caustic minerals. I kept those in the back of the store and only allowed customers to see them when I accompanied them to go into the back of the shop.
It was on one of those stupid days where the rules were ignored and a customer/hanger-on was allowed to go into the back of the store, where the caustic chemicals were kept. I was asked if he could go into the back where the men’s room was. I told him he could carefully go by the tanks I was using that day and that they were being stripped down to base metal. These were very caustic chemicals along with volatile very high heat that were all exposed. I figured, what could happen? Before I knew it, everything was a blaze. This customer knew about how fraught this cauldron was and was probably thinking he could help. He couldn’t.
Owning a Lock and Gunsmith shop was like a good friend. It was a wonderful little store where men and women came by to discuss the best hunting area in South County, or where wild pigs were digging up their fields. My favorite was to discuss what was right or wrong about our country or city. It was a place that customers could come in to get a key made or to learn how to install security in their home.
The best thing about this store, in addition to being the only firearms store in Salinas, was that everyone was welcome to come by for coffee or to look at the new inventory in firearms. It was a place like no other place. Many of my customers came by just about every day, coming by just to say hi. A couple of chairs were set up so they could be comfortable while I tried to repair their rifle or pistol. In those days, it was like sharing a meeting room, except it was very dangerous. However, I did enjoy the customers being there with their questions and jokes.
I met most of the hunters in the valley while learning to work on the various key machines that were there when I bought the store. It was the only place in town to take a class in California Hunter Safety. These were classes you had to take in order to purchase a California Hunting license. It was a time I taught a lot of men from South County. I also taught their children, so they could buy a hunting license and enjoy the company of their fathers while looking for a wild pig that evening after dark. Even today, it’s always a pleasure when someone approaches me and says, “I took your Hunter Safety Class.”
Today I am reminded of the fire that affected my business, and the pain of the loss. The residents of Southern California have a long, painful road ahead. I know there are many of us who want to help. My hope is that FEMA, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and others will help.
I love writing my little diatribes every week. I can’t tell you how good it is to have to write something that might perk up your thoughts from one week to another. Unfortunately, today is one of those days where my heart is hurting for so many. I know that in my heart there are answers that will go a long way in healing. It’s just that the fires in Southern Cal just make me want to weep for the losses, not just the homes or cars but the thoughts that someone may have helped in the destruction.
I have been watching and listening as I’m sure you have. I have had to put my head down and ask GOD to help touch those who can’t find peace at this time. When someone asks what they can do, just mention that there is someone that never sleeps. As I wrote these words today, I can still remember thinking that there was no help. Yet I’m still here and the memories I have do not reflect the life I now share with my family. The world continues to turn and there are many still out there.
God Bless.
