Posted by Dale D. (NM) on Monday, June 24, 2002 at 10:36AM :
I played Saturday night for a Fiesta in St. Johns, AZ. The wife went with me as she knew I'd be driving home very early in the morning (got home at 4:30 am). We drove within 30 miles of the fire near Show Low, and what an awe-inspiring sight. The giant cloud of smoke was hundreds of feet high, with a red glow at it's base, thick at it's origin, then drifting across the horizon to the NE as far as we could see. It kind of made me think of what a nuclear blast might look like. The dance was in a large outdoor ramada, and the drifting smoke was apparent to the eyes, throat and lungs. I felt like I was fiddling while Rome burned.
During the 95 mile trip home, I have never seen so much traffic on that stretch of highway, particularly during the wee hours of the morning: A steady stream of pickups and cars towing open trailers, piled high with personal belongings; and all manner of RVs, parking anywhere they could find some space. Every motel had the "No Vacancy" sign lighted.
We were scheduled to play for another Fiesta in Springerville, AZ this coming Saturday, which has now been canceled. I'm now waiting to hear if the 3 night gig for the Springerville Rodeo will go on over July 4, 5, and 6, as when I passed early Sunday morning, the rodeo grounds were filling up with evacuees. My heart goes out to them, as I have been in their situation, not knowing whether or not one's home will still be standing when one returns. I also
realize that any moment, we could be evacuating ourselves. Mother Nature can be a real Mother! How can you possibly move a yard full of dead Flat Fenders?
I think I'll re-write the lyrics to the old Beatle's song "All You Need is Love" to "All We Need is Rain." But just now, as I'm hacking away at this keyboard, my little Granddaughter came up and for no particular reason, gave me a kiss. Ah....I know now everything will be just fine! -D.
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