Our First Trip
Back to
"Paradise" -
the latest
Colorado High
Park Fire Update
(contains photos
- please be
patient as they
load)
OK, we’re back
from our first
trip to our
mountain
neighborhood,
Paradise Park,
since we were
evacuated three
weeks ago. First
fact – the house
is TOAST! It’s
now just a huge
hole with burned
out pieces of
blackened metal
junk. The fire
was so hot it
melted glass.
However, I was
surprised to
clearly see a
few
clean-looking
mugs and at
least part of a
plate. We could
also make out
the charred
outlines of
things like the
washer, stove,
microwave, two
file cabinets,
and the warped
metal frame of
what used to be
Mike’s favorite
recliner.
Mike and I were
both surprised
at how
practically we
handled it, even
making jokes and
laughing when we
identified
something in the
rubble. I think
this was due in
large part
because we were
thrilled at how
much prayer,
firefighter, and
angel-protected
green surrounded
our place. And
the studio – the
blessed
protected
studio! – looks
like it was gone
on vacation for
all this
disaster, and
was plunked
right back down
in the middle of
it all. It’s
beautiful and
perfect! We
walked in,
flipped a
switch, and
power had
already been
restored! The
water is good,
and all of our
sewing machines,
business
machinery,
resource books,
and costumes
stored in this
building are
wonderfully
safe! Of course
there is a smell
of smoke, but
we’ll see if
insurance can
help clear that
out.
The miracle
Studio/Shop -
our new home.
So, while we
will certainly
mourn the loss
of our beautiful
house and its
treasured
contents, we’re
so glad we can
return “home.”
The studio is
where Mike and I
lived the first
year we were
married, so
coming home to
it is a warm
experience.
Besides our work
rooms, Mike’s
office, and
storage space,
it also has a
guest bedroom, a
cute little
kitchen and
dining area, and
bathroom. At
this point,
we’re talking of
moving into the
studio, where we
already have a
collection of
second-best
dishes and
towels, and
sheets for the
guest bed, and
everything we
need to live
while we start
the cleanup and
rebuilding
process. One
current idea
we’re
considering is
to rebuild a new
studio on the
site of the old
house (complete
with a new
guest/client
quarters), and
then once that’s
finished, move
into it while we
gut and rebuild
the current
pieced-together
studio into our
new home. That
way, I’ll get
the sewing room
of my dreams,
Mike will have a
painting studio
with perfect
north lighting,
and we will
redesign our new
living space
together.
Mike's beloved
Spencer
Mountain, viewed
from our front
door across the
meadow, was
scorched to the
top. This is one
of Mike's
greatest
regrets.
Hundreds of
other trees on
our property
will need to be
removed, too.
Mike views an
ash flow across
our property,
caused when any
little bit of
rain falls on
the burnt areas.
Erosion control
is now a
concern.
In the meantime,
Mike will begin
the financial
task of juggling
filling leather
orders again
with having to
take time off
from leather
work to do the
necessary
months-long job
of cutting down
and removing
hundreds of dead
trees, making
sure the
neighborhood
road stays
passable due to
possible
mudslides and
erosion,
removing debris,
and planning and
re-building our
outbuildings and
home.
The point is -
we have a plan,
and we’re gonna
be OK!
Mike's garage
and tractor were
unscathed! It
started right up
- good thing,
because we're
gonna be needing
it for all the
cleanup.
Thank you to
everyone for
your continued
care and
prayers. As you
have bountifully
offered, we will
gratefully
accept your
help, because
this task is too
great for just
the two of us.
Some help will
be financial,
some for
comfort, some
with the loan of
heavy equipment
to clear and
build, and some
with physical
labor. We have a
long road ahead
of us, but it’s
ahead, not
behind. Behind
us is the pain,
tears, fear, and
loss, and ahead
is the joy of a
new road. We’re
both artists and
designers, you
know, and the
challenge and
joy of what we
will plan and
what is to come
has a great
appeal.
Not visible in
these photos,
our green valley
is now
surrounded by
about 1/2
mile-wide band
of black, some
of which was
torched so
fiercely the
actual ground is
burnt. Too many
of our neighbors
lost everything,
and have nothing
but blackness
and ash to which
to return, if
they have the
heart. Our
miracle oasis
has encouraged
us to return to
Paradise Park
and rebuild.
Thank God for
you and your
prayers, His
angels, and the
brave
firefighters
from across the
country and
beyond.
For all of you
who wrote and
called, I hope
in the coming
weeks to be able
to speak with
each of you
personally to
give you my
heartfelt
thanks. Thank
you for your
understanding
and patience.
Every single
email, card, and
phone message
was read, heard,
and appreciated.
This is not the
last you’ve
heard of us!
: )
I’ll try to keep
you posted as
our journey
progresses….
Most sincerely,
Sharon & Mike
Guli
PO Box 127
Bellvue, CO
80512
PS: I plan to
post more photos
soon on Facebook
to be viewed
publicly, and
will let you
know when and
give you the
link. |
