My grandmother's sister passed this morning. COVID-19 has taken its first victim in my family.
Between the fires in California, the hurricanes in the gulf, and the ever-present specter of COVID, this month has offered more threat than promise for many members of my family. This is in addition to the issues writ large on our national stage that cannot be ignored.
My parents facing mandatory evacuation from fire. My extended family in the "unsurvivable" pathway of storms. This month felt like it was gunning for us. Throughout these crises we learned of the diagnosis and worsening condition of my great aunt, the positive test from her daughter, and now this.
I had meant to write up more about the experience of helping my family navigate evacuation in a time of COVID. We've been making fortresses out of our homes, bunkering down against a virus. And suddenly, home was no longer safe. My parents were under mandatory evacuation. There were frustrating and humorous moments - my parents took 16 rabbits to the beach to escape heat and air quality issues closer to home. We all lost a lot of sleep and spent a lot of time poring over alerts and GIS fire maps. We talked a lot.
But now, I don't know. I am exhausted.
Maybe this is enough for now.
