Thanks
@KDOGG331,
@ChickenCanoe,
@SnapdragonQ,
@jmns and others for your kindness and concern! The fires in southern California are terrifying and I really can't imagine what it's like in northern California and the Northwest where they are worse. We don't live in the line of fire, but the air quality here is awful. The economic effects, on top of everything the pandemic is causing, make me really worried as I prepare for a major pay cut at work (as a single parent, that's a real concern).
But even with those worries, there are others who have it much worse. Specifically, the animals, plants, people being evacuated from their homes, the air, land and water. As the article
@ChickenCanoe shared indicates, settler colonialism has caused much of the increase in fires in the area, as well as changes in attitude towards the environment. I really wish animals, plants, water, land and air could be seen as having similar "rights" as humans and that there were protections of these beings at least equal to those of corporations.
! Some friends had to evacuate Pasadena yesterday and others in the Bay Area/northern California sent photos of the sky that were absolutely horrifying. They looked like scenes from a science fiction film. It's pretty easy to lose hope with everything's that happening, although also taking inspiration from those who are managing the pandemic is creative, joyful ways and those tackling climate change fearlessly and with determination. 
