[Puts the phone down after hearing we need to evacuate due to a large wildfire nearby.] Oh my gosh. We seriously need to evacuate.

Kids! We need to leave the house because there is a fire close by. We’re going to be okay. We just need to leave, so go pack your things. Let’s go! Get your backpacks. Put shorts, shirts, socks, and underwear in it. Yes, you can take your stuffed animals and pillows.

Baby’s asleep. Let him sleep as long as possible. [Looks around.]

Get the suitcases. I wonder if I’ll go to work Tuesday. I need work clothes. And shoes. Toiletries. Jewelry. [Looks around.] Uhmmm. Oh! Oh! Marked-up copy of nursing journal article. Personal laptop. Briefcase with work laptop and work cell phone. Three phone chargers. Two external hard drives. Wedding album and baby albums.

[Power goes out.]

Should I take anything from the refrigerator? It won’t be good for long. No, why do I care about that! Focus. Animal crackers and sippy cup. Fill with milk. Grab the kiddos’ allergy meds, thermometer, children’s ibuprofen and acetaminophen. A few DVD’s for the computer.

[Husband enters.] Me: We JUST got our sweet family photos hung on the wall. Should I take them off the wall and pack them with us? Him: Seriously? Uh, no. Help me pack the truck.

Right.

Wake the baby. Grab some bags. [Looks around. Says a prayer for our home, our neighbors, and the responders.] Buckle the kids. [Watches the husband manually close the garage door. Waves goodbye to our neighbors packing, too. Watches the smoke rise. Merges onto the packed highway. Deep breathes. Says another prayer.]

_______

Update: My family and I are still evacuated along with hundreds of other families. Area schools are closed tomorrow. Pharmacies and firefighters are helping people needing their medications – either via small refills or safely escorting them back to their homes, when possible, to collect certain medications. Helicopters are collecting and pouring water on the fire from the nearby lake (which is actually the Colorado River). While my community’s fire is nearly 20% contained, there is a much, much larger fire – catastrophic, in fact – in nearby Bastrop that is 14,000 acres wide and has destroyed over 300 homes. Our exhausted fire crews and emergency responders are working non-stop on this Labor Day. Thank you to them, their families, and all of my friends via “real life,” the blogosphere, and social networks who have sent messages upon messages checking on me and my family.