Little did she know...

it still takes my breath away

I've been pretty silent on here for a while.  Part of that is because I have two jobs and not as many adventures.  Most of it is because on the night of 30 June when I was having the usual hang out time with a buddy, I started to get text messages about one of my other buddies who was fighting fire in AZ.  Had I heard from him? Did I know what was going on?  I was clueless.  But within moments I began to understand the gravity of the situation.  Nineteen hotshots lost in a fire . "What do you mean lost?"  Dead .  "Are you sure? Please please let me know when you know for sure."  Pit in my stomach and tightening throat and burning eyes. Going through the motions while waiting to hear what my heart already knew to be true.  The stars were brilliant while we stood outside in the darkness. A cool breeze after a hot day.  Silence broken by short sentences.  Then it came and I couldn't make myself say the words out loud....