We lost our big pear tree in our 2nd (!) snow storm of the year in May. Losing a 20 year old tree that was an important part of our family life-providing shade for the children during hot summers, refuge for birds and wildlife, centering sanctuary during COVID-was heartbreaking. But native plants that existed in its shadow are now flourishing in the light. New varieties of birds and butterflies are visiting our garden now. We can mourn the loss of icons, but in the space left behind is a world of possibilities.
Danielle I so love this. I am sorry to hear about the tree, in your amazing garden. But what you describe is pretty important, too. Makes me think of disaster ecology, which I was also thinking of as I wrote this post. Your last line is priceless. "In the space left behind is a world of possibilities." Hear hear. THANK YOU. -V
An update... I was able to drive around the hometown restaurant building today, and to have a look at the building now and some of the signs of the damage and of the fire behavior inside yesterday. It looks incredibly intense. The restaurant had closed early yesterday due to the heat wave, and the fire started while it was closed and no one was inside. It's quite breathtaking to see the signs of how hot it would have been. Some types of structural fires burn hotter and more intensely than others, and a commercial kitchen fire in a very old structure seems like one of those types of fires.
On a personal note, I had a look at the picnic area where we had the family gathering that I mentioned in the post. That part looks the same, and I got to share the story with the person I was with today. Yet overall, you could just feel the sense of loss around the area of the restaurant... and in the vibe of the community. This comes from knowing the place. It also comes from seeing the high volume of traffic from other folks also checking it out.
A lot of people holding space for this thing. It gives me hope in people, in community, and in the kinds of places and lives we cherish and hold dear. We can do more with that. -Vanessa
Update again on the hometown restaurant fire. The community and business have rallied together really very quickly, and put together a plan for ways forward. Here's the summary, from the City of Nevada...
We lost our big pear tree in our 2nd (!) snow storm of the year in May. Losing a 20 year old tree that was an important part of our family life-providing shade for the children during hot summers, refuge for birds and wildlife, centering sanctuary during COVID-was heartbreaking. But native plants that existed in its shadow are now flourishing in the light. New varieties of birds and butterflies are visiting our garden now. We can mourn the loss of icons, but in the space left behind is a world of possibilities.
Danielle I so love this. I am sorry to hear about the tree, in your amazing garden. But what you describe is pretty important, too. Makes me think of disaster ecology, which I was also thinking of as I wrote this post. Your last line is priceless. "In the space left behind is a world of possibilities." Hear hear. THANK YOU. -V
An update... I was able to drive around the hometown restaurant building today, and to have a look at the building now and some of the signs of the damage and of the fire behavior inside yesterday. It looks incredibly intense. The restaurant had closed early yesterday due to the heat wave, and the fire started while it was closed and no one was inside. It's quite breathtaking to see the signs of how hot it would have been. Some types of structural fires burn hotter and more intensely than others, and a commercial kitchen fire in a very old structure seems like one of those types of fires.
On a personal note, I had a look at the picnic area where we had the family gathering that I mentioned in the post. That part looks the same, and I got to share the story with the person I was with today. Yet overall, you could just feel the sense of loss around the area of the restaurant... and in the vibe of the community. This comes from knowing the place. It also comes from seeing the high volume of traffic from other folks also checking it out.
A lot of people holding space for this thing. It gives me hope in people, in community, and in the kinds of places and lives we cherish and hold dear. We can do more with that. -Vanessa
Update again on the hometown restaurant fire. The community and business have rallied together really very quickly, and put together a plan for ways forward. Here's the summary, from the City of Nevada...
https://cityofnevadaiowa.org/news/plans-are-in-the-works-to-save-community-landmark/