Our fire has been explained, and it’s terrifying. There were fire tornadoes and they came right straight at us. Here’s the map, from the San Francisco Chronicle. :
Our home, Fountaingrove Lodge, is located under the lower black arrow in the tornado graphic. At midnight on Sunday night, we, with Pat and Mike drove down Fountaingrove Parkway and turned right onto 101. We drove through thick smoke, with flames on the right shoulder, where you see the red arrow. Somebody up there likes us, a lot.
You can read the full story at http://tinyurl.com/ybjtw5a5
The wineries of Napa are reporting in. The ones that are back in business and donating all or part of their tasting room fees are, Miner in Oakville, 100% of tasting fees, 25% of sales going to Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund. Silver Trident 100% of tasting fees to The North Bay Fire Relief Fund, ZD donating 50% of all tasting fees to the Napa Valley Community Foundation supporting the fire relief efforts. Chapellet and Frog’s Leap also reported in safe and back in business.
We are healthy, except for smoke inhalation, but I am losing the battle to keep Elvon smart and strong enough to do the transfers he needs to do. So, we will be moving to Belmont in Albany, as soon as our Lodge Management can guarantee I won’t be driving all that way for nothing. They will tell us tomorrow, I hope. I have been talking to Marissa, our wonderful nurse.
Helen Megan 
Thanks for the info. Any idea how long you will be in Albany?
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Holy cow, Helen, unbelievable!!!!
Good luck with everything. Give yourself and Elvon a hug.
xo
Marge
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I am so sorry for all your trouble. I can’t believe you have to move again – are you going to the East Bay, near Berkeley?
Hang in there!
Love,
Mariann
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Yes, Belmont Senior Living in Albany. At least I think that’s where we are going. I haven’t heard a word today. They should tell me by tomorrow, but they haven’t been the greatest communicators.
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Thanks for update. You do continue to think of solutions for next steps. Well done
Albany is a nice town – I grew up in the East Bay – El Cerrito and Richmond
My best to you!
Sent from my iPhone
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Yikes, were you ever lucky. I don’t understand what you mean about « keeping Elvon smart and strong enough to do the transfers he has to do ».
Good luck in whatever comes up. Hope you soon get a much deserved break (spa time?) sooner than later.
Love,
Diann
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Elvon is post-Polio and has Alzheimers’, which his doctor rates as “severe dementia”. His left leg is essentially useless, and he cannot always command the other one. He does not consistently understand that you have to push down on a walker. Sometimes he tries to get into it by pulling up. Other times, it’s fine. Last night I had to call the Fire Department at 1:00 am, to get him off the toilet. This is why we need assisted living. I am not enough of an assist, by myself.
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Helen, I just read this, you are moving to Albany/Belmont, going for a while to moving? Looked it up, it is close to Berkeley? Retirement Village? Is that the place? As I understand you go there with Elvon and then go back to the Lodge in 2-4 weeks when all facilities are back on? Or you stay/move to Belmont village for good?
Oh Helen, that is so hard, all of it…I am so sorry you have to go thru all of this. I wish sincerely I were with you, could help you out (not bother you) a bit!
Love you so much and admire your strength, you are in our thoughts. A lot. Much love.
You are always welcome here, we have a gym as well… ULLA
Ulla’s IPad
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Gil, You are a doll, and France is looking good to me. Rod Anderson offered Montreal and Florida, too. But, Elvon is not very mobile, so none of these is an option for him. We are making do pretty well in the Carmel Highlands, at the lovely home of Candy and Ernie Scalberg. You’ll remember them from Chateau de Detilly, some years back. I’ll be happy to get back to assisted living, though.
Ulla, your offer is more practical, but, yes, we are hoping for Belmont Village in Albany, near Berkeley, where we will get all the services we have at the Lodge. It looks like we will be moving back to the Lodge around the middle of November.
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Dearest Helen and Elvon,
We are all very upset with the news from California, and the devastation suffered by many of your friends. We are happy you are safe (and that includes the cat, of course), and that your lodge, if I understand well, is still up. Not clear about your old house though, or even whether it was still yours…
Maybe if things get even dicier, with the fires, water shortages to come, various riots and stuff, a possible Mexican invasion, not to mention an always possible gas shortage, and then your madman-President, you will find that France could be an attractive refuge, although we do have a few problems here too… But we have good fast trains, buses, metros, stable and reliable nuclear power, and by then, all the fancy French chefs in California will have moved back here, so see?
And then there is Brittany, where the water is warmer than in Ca. and the locals very pleasant.
We will of course sponsor you.
Love
Gil
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