We residents of Southern California have certainly been through traumatic times lately. Fierce fires raged over vast stretches of our homelands, leaving unthinkable devastation behind. Winds blowing up to nearly 100 miles per hour blasted the flames hither and yon, at times driving back the helicopters from their war with the conflagrations.

The fires and winds damaged or destroyed over 10,000 homes. My current house in Glendale escaped any damage, but I did not escape the feeling of loss. Recently I drove along Midwick Drive in Altadena, where I lived from 1969 to 2003. All three of my kids lived there with me and my wife Jane from cradle to college. But now, in the spot where we spent so many good years, there is only rubble with a fireplace rising amid all the chaos in hopeless defiance.

Seeing first hand what is left of my home of 34 years felt like a gut punch.

Just a few weeks later, my life's script flipped to, of all things, the fantasy baseball season. Playing “FanBall” with my son has been a highlight for me for the past 12 years. But I wondered how I could enjoy it this year when so many people, some close to my heart, are suffering so much. I struggled even to find names for my two teams!

Then a few days ago, while I was browsing through some of my favorite music on YouTube, I found a treasure: a song from a Lerner and Loewe musical called “Paint Your Wagon”. It opened on Broadway in 1951 and ran for 289 performances over 8 months. The musical takes place during the California gold rush. In one of the play's most memorable scenes, the miners bemoan their lonely, nomadic life with the song “They Call the Wind Mariah”. The song's first four lines caught my attention:

“A way out here they've got a name

For rain and wind and fire.

The rain is Tess, the fire is Jo,

And they call the wind Mariah.”

Bingo! I had found the names for my teams: Mariah (the wind), and Jo (the fire)! With those names in hand as I check on my teams each day, I will think of how our year started. And I will pay tribute to all those who have experienced loss from the tragedy. And to the dedication of the fire fighters and rescue workers. And to the thousands of people who rose up to help in so many ways. And I will celebrate the miracle of love that we all have experienced.

And I will also enjoy playing “FanBall” with my son once again.

Addendum: For those who are curious, here are the song's complete lyrics:

They Call the Wind Mariah

A Way Out Here They've Got A Name

For Rain And Wind And Fire
The Rain Is Tess The Fire Is Jo

And They Call The Wind Mariah
Marian Blows The Stars Around

She Sets The Clouds A-Flying
Mariah Makes The Mountains Sound

Like Folks Are Up There Dying
Mariah Mariah They Call The Wind Mariah

Before I Knew Mariah's Name

And Heard Her Wails And Whining
I Had A Girl And She Had Me

And The Sun Was Always Shining
And Then One Day I Left My Girl

I Left Her Far Behind Me
And Now I'm Lost So Gall-Dern Lost

Not Even God Can Find Me
Mariah Mariah They Call The Wind Mariah

Out Here They've Got A Name For Rain

And Wind And Fire Only
But When You're Lost And All Alone

There Ain't No Name But Lonely
Now I'm A Lost And Lonely Man

Without The Stars To Guide Me
Mariah Blow Her Love To Me

I Need Her Here Beside Me
Mariah Mariah They Call The Wind Mariah

Mariah MARIAH! BLOW HER LOVE TO ME!

From “Paint Your Wagon”, 1951.

Lyrics by Alan J. Lerner

Music by Frederick Lowe

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