The Bastrop Complex Fire

Four years ago, my parents bought their "retirement" home in Bastrop, Tx. Bastrop is about 35 miles east of Austin on HWY 71. The house is amazing. It sits right in front off the first tee box on Pine Forest Golf Course, and right across from the Colorado River. You can actually see the river from their front porch. For a girl from Muleshoe, TX, this is an incredible thing. I mean, a freaking RIVER y'all! I didn't know it at the time, but I was pregnant with Ella when they closed on the house. When I found out I was pregnant, I was actually pissed that they had bought the house, and that my child would grow up not knowing the house that I called home in Muleshoe. At that time, Mom and Dad did not spend much time there. They were probably there about once a month. Kyle and his wife, Christi, and Max and I would go spend a weekend a piece there, to make sure that everything was working, and that the house was okay. In about three months, that house was a part of our family. We had friends in Bastrop. And I don't mean people we said "Hi" to, people that became a part of our family. Bastrop quickly became home, and Muleshoe became a place we liked to visit and see old friends. Ella has only known "The Bastrop House" as we call it, as Nanny and Daddo's...she only saw my childhood home twice. We have spent a couple of Christmas days there, some Thanksgivings, an Easter, four Halloweens, and a couple of Independence Days. It is our home.
Last Sunday, Kyle and Christi had come in with their dog, Deacon, and I went to get Ella (she had stayed with Mom and Dad all weekend so Max and I could get some work done on the house-- which we didn't do!). Since I had Labor Day off, I decided Ella and I could stay Sunday night and go home Monday. Mom and I were planning a baby shower for my friend Betsy, that was to be held at the house the following Saturday. I knew we weren't going to be there very long that morning, because we had planned to help Christi pick out some maternity clothes (YAY!) in Austin. We all piled in Mom and Dad's Yukon, and headed out. We had a great day. Lunch at Abuelo's, shopping at Barton Creek Square, and we were having so much fun on the way home. Kyle was driving and I was sitting in the front seat with him. As we pulled into Bastrop, there were several fires going. We had planned to BBQ some chicken, and I heard Dad say to Mom, "Terri, we better not barbeque the chicken, we may catch the whole neighborhood on fire." The wind was blowing like we were in the panhandle, and it was hot. The conditions were favorable for fires. We could see smoke up ahead, and as we drove closer, we realized how serious it really was. There was a police car blocking HWY 71 towards the entrance of Tahitian Village (their neighborhood). Mom and Dad were both trying to tell Kyle how to get in a "secret" entrance. I could see Kyle's brain saying, "DEACON, DEACON, DEACON." We u-turned and got to where we could go in the secret way, Kyle was visibly shaken, as were Mom and Dad. I started to get scared, and Ella was singing something in the backseat. We were the only car trying to get in, there was already traffic piling up of cars trying to get out. People were waving us away, trying to get us turned around, flashing their lights at us. It was terrifying, but we made it to the house. The smoke was getting thicker and closer. We all hugged Deacon when we walked in the door, and we threw stuff in bags and loaded up the cars. Then we joined the line of cars evacuating Tahitian Village.
After 30 minutes of stop-and-go traffic, we made it to the Best Buy parking lot in Bastrop. We got out of our cars, and held each other. All I could think about was how sorry I felt for my parents. My parents, who I have watched work their asses off my whole life for Kyle and me, and for that house. My parents, who work harder than anyone else I have ever known, and who deserve their dream house on a golf course by a river...and it was all going to burn to the ground. We all cried there in that Best Buy parking lot. We re-grouped, went to a gas station and filled up all three cars, and went to the Hilton at the Austin-Bergstrom Airport. We slept, actually, we didn't sleep, there that night, knowing that many people, even friends, were losing everything. It was a very tough night, that is all I'll say about that.
The next morning, we got up and checked the news, and found out from a neighbor that the house had survived the first night of fires, but things didn't look good for the day. Ella and I went home, to San Antonio, with the fire in our rearview mirror. Kyle and Christi went home, to Houston with the fire in their rearview mirror. All I did for three days was read Facebook posts and my Twitter feed. I didn't even really teach my classes! I just gave them all busy work and book work--bad teacher!
After a week of conflicting reports, bad news, and false posts, we found out that the house is fine. So are the homes of many good friends.
Today, I took a carload of donations from my students and myself there. I dropped everything off at the Chili's in Bastrop. They were having a free pancake breakfast for the victims, and also a donation drive and giveaway. When we got everything out of my car, they told me, "Go in and get some breakfast and some coffee." I couldn't do it...that wasn't for me. I had two cups of coffee already this morning...WHILE LAYING IN MY BED!!! The people who were to eat that breakfast slept on cots in school gyms.
I met up with Mom and Dad, who are doing pretty well, despite the fact that they are not being let into their home yet. We went to Elgin (a short drive up Hwy 95) to attend the baby shower that was supposed to be at our place. We left early because we thought we were going to be let onto Riverside, so we could finally see the place, and clean out the fridge, which I'm sure is disgusting. But we were not let in, and they probably will not be let in until Monday, maybe even Tuesday. We drove down Hwy 71 to Smithville, past the Bastrop State Park, that stretch of highway was reopened this morning. Anyone who knows that area knows that it is called "Lost Pines" because of the amazing pine trees. They are all gone. All of them. That stretch of road now looks as if a bomb has gone off. Everything is destroyed, save some random lucky structures. We came back and had lunch at one of our favorite places...The Roadhouse. We all thought it was gone, and had actually heard that it had burned down that first night...but it was there. That burger was comfort.
Bastrop is a special community. Everywhere I looked today, there were tents set up for people to come get clothing and water...there were special tents set up for the firefighters with water, Gatorade and snacks. I have a feeling that Bastrop didn't "need" the fire to bring everyone together, because everyone was already together. Since four years ago, when Mom and Dad bought the house, I have felt that we, our family, was a part of a special community. Please, if you read this, and I know it is really long, pray for those who have lost everything, the two souls that have left the community, and everyone else who has had to deal with this terrible drought, fire season, and destruction in all of Texas. Our state is too beautiful for it all to go up in flames.
With all of this said, I feel so lucky to be drinking my wine out of my refrigerator, slipping into my own bed, and falling asleep with a roof over my head tonight. Count your blessings, everyone. They are plentiful.

Been awhile...I know

Okay, since the last update was right after Halloween, I need to post today. And actually, it is the first moment I have had any time to do so. Thank goodness for the impromptu attitude of the weather in South Texas! It was very nice to have a little break on Friday. Max was even asked not to go in to work that day, so we had so much fun hanging out as a family, with no place to go, and nothing to do. Unfortunately, Ella got a little sick that night, but felt much better on Saturday.

So here are the updates:
Thanksgiving was great. We spent it in Houston with Kyle and Christi, Christi's family, and Max's sister Chrissy. Chrissy accompanied us to the Museum of Natural Science for the Pirate exhibit, and to the Houston Children's Museum (which is AWESOME).

Christmas was spent here at our home with Joe and Adele. They flew in from Denver and were here almost a week. We have so much fun with them and miss them when they leave. Joe helped me get the Mac running quicker and updating it a little. Chichi and Grandpa Joe kept Ella while Max and I went to see "True Grit" for our 8th anniversary! It was a great time.

My 31st birthday was pretty great. We didn't really do anything special, but I did get out of the house to enjoy Girlie Night at the Alamo Drafthouse here in San Antonio. The movie was "Pretty in Pink!" It was so much fun.

That brings us to the snow day...I was not surprised when I got a call from the district early Friday morning. The lady on the other end had just finished making 3 dozen cupcakes for our scheduled potluck that day. She told me they were going to eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all weekend! I had to laugh at that.

So, without further ado...here are the random pics from the last three months. Enjoy!

One of the better pictures from Christmas. Seriously, we didn't take many this year!

The Light Tree at Sights and Sounds of Christmas.

Me, on my Birthday. Photo by Ella Wimmer

Ella "trudging" through the snow.

Vintage Mom and Ella.