Thanks for Everything

Do we really have to give thanks for everything all the time? Even mosquitoes?

What do you take with you when you may never come back?

That was the question residents of Greenville, Calif. faced in July 2021, hours before the Dixie Fire — the most expensive wildfire in American history in terms of firefighting costs.

Not much in Greenville was green after the fire roared through. It utterly destroyed the place.

When the evacuation order came, the locals had just a few hours to decide what to take with them as they fled for their lives. A couple of reporters from The Washington Post caught up with some of the evacuees afterwards. They asked them to show them the things they’d decided to take with them, and why.

Stephanie Fairbanks, age 33, took the ashes of her two deceased dogs, some antique meat grinders and some antique bottles and cans she’d collected.

Harvey Merino, age 43 — an artist who makes T-shirts and decals — took his sketchbooks of design ideas.

Brianna Angel, age 10, was given the job of rounding up the family...