Comments on: Where There’s Smoke http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2009/08/07/where-theres-smoke/ (bôr'dər-lănd') n. Located on or near a frontier. An indeterminate area or condition. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:21:32 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Doug Noon http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2009/08/07/where-theres-smoke/comment-page-1/#comment-127921 Doug Noon Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:15:45 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/?p=1754#comment-127921 Good story, Sarah. I can relate. Lots going on this week, here. I'll write an update on this situation real soon. We're doing OK; it looks like the weather is going to cooperate this time. Good story, Sarah. I can relate.

Lots going on this week, here. I’ll write an update on this situation real soon. We’re doing OK; it looks like the weather is going to cooperate this time.

]]> By: Sarah Puglisi http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2009/08/07/where-theres-smoke/comment-page-1/#comment-127919 Sarah Puglisi Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:36:36 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/?p=1754#comment-127919 Well I was gone a few days missing this awful news. I hope you are all fine. I've evacuated twice with fire less than two miles away and, of course, when we went to work in Warner Springs up in San Diego Mtns. saw fires twice coming in there that were awfully close to the school and a big part of my "welcome" to a new job temping. The kids came to school just out of fires that in some cases took their homes, or property and they were very raw, very out and emotional. This school provided teachers with some training going in that year,good stuff, but it was a rather interesting experience I've intended to write. The children were activated and the adults more so. Some adults finding a very good place inside themselves, others absolutely frightened, unnerved, selfish, mean, nutty. It took me awhile to take that all in, not react against it or to worsen it, and to fully see it in the context of this massive firestorm they were experiencing. Well I was too actually. Those already angry and difficult were just more so and that surprised me. So I started that year with about 30 kids ranging 3rd grade to 7th and mostly 5th...looking back I wish right away I'd just understood the fear better.Talked it directly. And allowed them to talk to what was going on at home, cause getting school supplies, new duds, the things we ritualize just about going to school, well, that wasn't working and they were feeling odd, fearful, not ready to leave homes yet as I suspect you might encounter. All those kids were rural, raised animals, had their "other lives." So they had concerns about all of that- at time very primitive feelings they weren't articulate about or fully "aware" of as being in play. One boy, Adam, who lived without water (they carried it and stored it), he lived on the reservation and I didn't learn about the water for awhile. All he wanted to do was be at the sink, in the water. He was traumatized by those fires, his life was already fallin..and I started the year on my "say in your seat " thing. Eventually I got over that entirely.Stay out of your seat would be a much better position. Those kids needed to be able to be up. Adam needed to feel water. You learn a lot teaching. I suspect you'll be adding to the repertoire. I hope you are all ok Doug. It takes awhile to even get over breathing that amount of smoke. Well I was gone a few days missing this awful news. I hope you are all fine. I’ve evacuated twice with fire less than two miles away and, of course, when we went to work in Warner Springs up in San Diego Mtns. saw fires twice coming in there that were awfully close to the school and a big part of my “welcome” to a new job temping. The kids came to school just out of fires that in some cases took their homes, or property and they were very raw, very out and emotional. This school provided teachers with some training going in that year,good stuff, but it was a rather interesting experience I’ve intended to write. The children were activated and the adults more so. Some adults finding a very good place inside themselves, others absolutely frightened, unnerved, selfish, mean, nutty. It took me awhile to take that all in, not react against it or to worsen it, and to fully see it in the context of this massive firestorm they were experiencing. Well I was too actually. Those already angry and difficult were just more so and that surprised me. So I started that year with about 30 kids ranging 3rd grade to 7th and mostly 5th…looking back I wish right away I’d just understood the fear better.Talked it directly. And allowed them to talk to what was going on at home, cause getting school supplies, new duds, the things we ritualize just about going to school, well, that wasn’t working and they were feeling odd, fearful, not ready to leave homes yet as I suspect you might encounter. All those kids were rural, raised animals, had their “other lives.” So they had concerns about all of that- at time very primitive feelings they weren’t articulate about or fully “aware” of as being in play. One boy, Adam, who lived without water (they carried it and stored it), he lived on the reservation and I didn’t learn about the water for awhile. All he wanted to do was be at the sink, in the water. He was traumatized by those fires, his life was already fallin..and I started the year on my “say in your seat ” thing. Eventually I got over that entirely.Stay out of your seat would be a much better position. Those kids needed to be able to be up. Adam needed to feel water.
You learn a lot teaching.
I suspect you’ll be adding to the repertoire.
I hope you are all ok Doug. It takes awhile to even get over breathing that amount of smoke.

]]> By: Michael Doyle http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2009/08/07/where-theres-smoke/comment-page-1/#comment-127917 Michael Doyle Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:29:33 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/?p=1754#comment-127917 I hope (pray) things are better by now. I cannot imagine starting school under those conditions. I hope (pray) things are better by now.

I cannot imagine starting school under those conditions.

]]> By: Doug Noon http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2009/08/07/where-theres-smoke/comment-page-1/#comment-127900 Doug Noon Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:01:43 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/?p=1754#comment-127900 Thanks, Michaele. The smoke comes and goes - it's like standing next to a campfire, full time. I think we might almost be getting used to it, but planning for an evacuation is a big distraction for the start of the school year. Thanks, Michaele. The smoke comes and goes – it’s like standing next to a campfire, full time. I think we might almost be getting used to it, but planning for an evacuation is a big distraction for the start of the school year.

]]> By: Michaele Sommerville http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2009/08/07/where-theres-smoke/comment-page-1/#comment-127896 Michaele Sommerville Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:30:37 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/?p=1754#comment-127896 Good thoughts to you, your family and your neighbors Doug- My son drives out of there at the end of the month on his way to UAS. He says the smell/smoke has been awful. Good thoughts to you, your family and your neighbors Doug- My son drives out of there at the end of the month on his way to UAS. He says the smell/smoke has been awful.

]]>