Gratitude for the Village: Supporting Me Through the Fire

From Bridget Brewster:

It's important for me to publicly thank you.

Since THE FIRE (a marker for all time), the Village has held my hand in so many ways.  When I needed comfort someone was there, when I needed material and financial assistance, the Village was there. In countless ways the staff and Villagers have made it possible for me to acknowledge a profound loss and to find new possibilities for a future yet imagined. Thank you each for the many ways you have lived the mission of the Village  . . . helping this Villager age in several places while navigating life changes.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Footnote: As a personal friend of mine in the Village, Bridget took me out to dinner recently. On the way to the restaurant, we drove by her former home. As a resident of Villa Gardens, I have not been out to the burned areas yet, so this was my first opportunity to see and feel directly the experience of what the fire has meant to residents of Altadena. As we approached Bridget's address, I was struck by block after block of block of debris where nice homes had formerly stood. The effect is powerful and cumulative. When we reached Bridget's address on a lot of approximately a half-acre in what was clearly a very nice neighborhood, we drove up into her driveway. Halfway up the driveway, there were about 4-5 stairs that led to nothing. Behind the stairs some distance was a chimney. On the other side of the chimney were the remains of her convertible. We were able to drive to the back of the lot where the house once stood, and she pointed further back saying that is where my home was in an ADU in the back of the lot. Her son and his family occupied the main house. The entire lot was covered in debris of these homes.

As a visually impaired person who has not previously been out in the neighborhoods that have been destroyed, being here looking at this was a completely new experience for me. Because of my vision I have not even seen pictures of the devastated areas. Being in the middle of the area brings the loss home in a different way. 

- Dick Myers