November 22, 2023

There was a range fire about ten miles north luckily it was out quickly and well away from ranch houses, barns, horse areas. While I stood at the end of the road watching the smoke trying to decide if I should put appropriate clothing on, grab the fire envelope and pull together a go-bag. I remembered watching a neighbor beat back roadside flames with a jacket because his shovel wasn’t working fast enough. People appeared from nowhere in the middle of that prairie, parking askew on the roadside Grabbing their shovel that lives in the back of the truck to beat, stamp, and smother the fire. And the people who didn’t have tools kicked and stomped at the embers and small flames threatening to become a big blaze rolling towards a barn and farmhouse. I could hear the hum of their prayers when they would pause and look up from the job at their feet and towards the vulnerable house and barn.