Monica White (Bruns)

Frank T. James

I have not been up to look at my place but it was in the evacuated area won't let people back in yet It is in a subdivion called fawn ridge which is listed as one of the areas hit pretty hard I had a friend go look He said the fire got within 10 feet of my back fence but everything looks ok might have smoke damage Will go check next weekend Let you know how it is and post pictures

Shirley Kennedy (Adams)

We are going up either this afternoon or tomorrow.  We have a friend that lost pets and home.  He lost all his possessions--guns, clothes and everything.  The last update that I had, Nogal Canyon fire 4% contained and only 300 plus acres and some structures; Ruidosos 0% contained because of wind and is heading NE towards airport which is in Alto.

We were going to go up Thursday but a friend of ours who is with Search & Rescue and works with the Firemen when needed told us not to come too many streets blocked off and chaos.  If you are familar with Ruidoso, the fire jumped the "Y" (70 and Sudderth) and they evacuated patients that were in ICU because of electricity.  That area has calmed down.

The electricity has been off for sometime.  They started it back up but a tree was across the line, caught fire and they had to shut down again.  The wind is the big problem.  If you know where the high school is--it took under 30 minutes for the fire to move from there to Gavilon Canyon Road.  Two elderly people (husband and wife) didn't make it.  The daughter works at the Lowe's Hdwe in Alamogordo and when we were there, were told two different stories,  They were heading out but forgot something and went back for it: or according to second story, they started to leave and discovered they were surrounded by the fire.  At any rate, sad to say they lost their live.  A rancher has lost many of his horses.  

The Inn is not affected.

Ruona Bertaccini

So thankful for these updates on the fires in Ruicoso.  Hoping that those of you that have homes there will be spared and that the Inn will also be spared.  Wishing you all the best wherever you have settled.

Shirley Kennedy (Adams)

We went to Ruidoso yesterday to take our friend some clothes because he lost everything, including 3 dogs and 1 still missing.   A  blessing in itself, our neighbor's husband died last year and his clothes were Jesse's size.

Since several of you are familar with Ruidoso, just below the Warrior Road, Hull Road was shut down and our friend said that Gavilon Canyon looked like a war zone.  That is the area he lived in and he had to walk in to save his animals and could not.  His Bloodhound had escaped and was taken to vets office by some people who found him.  An elderly couple died in the fire in the Gavilon Canyon area.  The fire came so fast because of the winds.  The winds were still blowing yesterday pretty hard, trees are down, power lines have been blown down and that is what caused the Nogal Canyon Fire by Capitan.  We stopped by Grindstone Lake and the wind gusts almost blew me in the lake.  Grindstone is so low because we are in drought conditions.  We see the slurry planes fly over and several large choppers have flown over from Ft. Bliss.  

When we drove into Ruidoso, on Suddereth, the only thing we saw that resembled a fire was the red slurry on the mountain.  We went to the Village or Ruidoso office facilities and they said that the fire was 0 contained and was in the Alto Area.  I have not had any updates today.  The fires are something in that area because of the canyons and down drafts that are created.  When we lived there, we were under several evacuation orders, the Little Bear Fire and the White Fire,  Pretty Scary.

The winds are practically nil here in Almagordo today and prayfully the winds have died down in Ruidoso.  While at the City Hall, they were boxing food to deliver to residents.  Whenever there is something going on, the residents and surrounding communities help.  A lot of people have been without power.  We were told that the area we use to live in came so close but stopped across the road.  For those that are familar, Hull Road and Willie Horton by the water tank.  

We did not try to see any damage because it was too sad, horses lost their lives, animals displaced and a couple of lives lost.  Hope you that have property there don't have any problems.

Shirley Kennedy (Adams)

Here is a website:  There are several different videos on the fire.

www.krqe.com/news/wildfires/evacuees-speak-about-the-challenges-theyface-afterfleeing-McBridefire/

Shirley Kennedy (Adams)

Wildfiretoday.com gives you arial photos and maps along with photos and updates.

Jim Dunlap

Terrifying.  Our local San Diego paper and the Wall Street Journal now are following the situation with news articles.  That said, nothing can replace the first-hand reports being shared with us.

Jimmie Byron Vaughn

Dire news about the fires and sadness for those who've lost homes and animals.  And the tragedy of losing the older couple.  Thank you all for these updates and I hope you all stay well.

Clark W. Schadle

Shirley, thanks for the update.  Hope it is contained very soon!

Clark

Shirley Kennedy (Adams)

The McBride Fire in Ruidoso, is now 56% contained, 207 structures destroyed, 6,150 acres.  Only 2 areas remain under evacuation, Gavilon Canyon from Warrior Drive to Hwy 70, and lower Eagle Creek.  The wind has died down and they don't expect the wind to be high today.   All other evacuation areas have been lifted.  They are still restoring power and most had their power.  Firefighters are removing trees that might be possible fire problems and going around cleaning up the hot spots.  www.NMfireinfo.com.  Fire under investigation

Nogal Fire west of Capitan is 42% contained, 433 acres burned, 6 homes and  9 outbuildings. Cause of fire down power line.

There are 3 other fires in the state up around Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Vegas, NM. The Bosque Fire around Albuquerque must be contained.

Jim Dunlap

Crap.  I just lost a long draft.  Message was that I was supposed to drive to Prescoll this weekend for an event to spread my cousin's ashes where she wanted the event to happen.  But due to the Crooks fire, that part of the forest is closed.  Event will be rescheduled.  Here today; gone tomorrow.  She was my age within a month. Talking with my wife (yes, we still occasionally communicate) we realized that we have no "final" arrangements on the record.  Last I checked, none of our 1963 class are getting any younger.  Especially not me.  Onward and upward!  2,4,6,8...who do we appreciate?  Irvin Rockets!!!

Richard W. Henderson

O.K.  Just who said something about looking forward to "the Golden Age"? Connie had her Gall Bladder removed yesterday (gall stones) and everything is good. I go in on the 3rd of May for my kidney stone to be zapped and I have a lot of trust in the doctor. After 52 years of doing everything together we even got "stoned" at the same time!

I called some of my local friends to thank them for their prayers and discovered the following:

Ray's wife had open heart surgery to repair a bad valve and while the machine was doing it's job, a pack of blood clots broke loose and now she has lost the use of one leg!

Mike had a complete knee replacement and is on crutches for the next month or two.

Allen had a heart pacemaker installed and is finally back home.

And Rob, the man that is putting on the car show that I will be at this Sunday, also just had a heart pacemaker installed! This getting old just isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I'm afraid to call any more of these folks.

When we were in high school, I only worried about getting winded playing tennis Now I get winded just watching someone else play tennis!!!

Again, we thank you for your prayers  Be safe.

Jim Dunlap

What the heck,  Going to open the booze cabinet and pour myself another drink,

Jim Dunlap

Tough call: vodka, gin, scotch whiskey, irish whiskey, Peruvian pisco...or more to the better, go to bed and leave the cabinet doors closed. That's my choice.  So concerned about all of our classmates and our friends and relatives.  Wishing for all of the health challenges to simply go away,  Stay active and eat/drink well. Prayers and hugs to All.

Shirley Kennedy (Adams)

Frank, I don;t know where your place is in Ruidoso so couldn't tell you about the fire area.  We went up yesterday to see how our friend was doing and he was trying to see if anything survived.  All his guns were melted and bent, his little PU was burnt.  He buried his 3 dogs and of course nothing was to find of his 2 cats left inside the structure.  His house was leveled to the ground along with many others.  We noticed that our friend had burns on his legs from trying to get back to save his animals.  Larry said it looked pretty bad but he wouldn't go to the doctor and was self medicating.

  Some homes still were standing and untouched.  The house directly across from his was not touched.  The German Shepherd that was in the backyard was rescused by the fire department and is now back in his yard.  The area around looks like a war zone.  For those familar with Gavilan Canyon Road, the RV places were gone and the trailers were burnt to the frame.  The grassy hills with the trees were grey as gun metal grey.  Houses gone along with trailers, businesses.  It came down the hill and then went up as far as the intersection of Hull and Gavilan and did not cross over.  The houses up on the hill from Hull were safe, the fire stopped in their backyard.  

While we were driving Gavilan, there was a stone wall to hold the soil and from behind that wall, smoke was still coming out 3 days later.  Downtown was untouched too far away from the Inn.  The only thing going on at the Inn is building a new overpass and beautifying the area for season of tourist.  Samaritan's Purse were there and the residents are lacking for nothing that were affected by the fire.  We passed many insurance vehicles, maintenance, Power New Mexico vehicles and fire trucks.  The place is a hub of activity.  I wish I knew how to download the pictures that I took so that those that are familar with Ruidoso would see.  There are now several other fires in NM and one in Flagstaff, AZ. 

When we came home yesterday via the road to Cloudcroft, there was a fire in the 16 Springs Area but it was quickly contained.  This whole state is under strict fire restrictions which includes no smoking outside.

Dolores Wheless (Turner)

Thanks for the updates on the fires, and Richard glad your wifes suregery went well.  Getting older is a challenge but so thankful we are still around.  Life is so short, we need enjoy all we can and help the others who are no so fortunate.  

Sandra Lynn Bolling (Kretzschmar)

Oooooh! Yeah, Pisco! Pisco sours. After living 3 years in Colombia, our daughter claims, Pisco sours cure colds and influenza. We used to get it here in our small town on the Oregon Coast, but the state owned liquor store no longer carries it. Still have a stash in the cupboard that we don't often indulge in. But keep Pisco in mind if you feel sick. 

Jim Dunlap

Being posted to Lima (not to mention covering Peru for many years while posted to Quito and La Paz) we consumed our fair share of pisco sours.  Now we're getting into a topic more relaxing than forest fires.  ??  I hope.  There was a great Peruvian restaurant within walking distance from our house.  Perfect for having some pisco sours and not having to drive home.

On my last visits surfer friends gave me bottles of pisco with my name on the label: one is Mosto Verde and the other is Acholado.  The others I finished off years ago.  The four types of pisco are: Puro, Aromáticas, Mosto Verde and Acholado.  The main thing to remember is that a pisco sour is a very strong cocktail, but tastes delightful.  Newcomers will often over-induldge without realizing the power of the drink.  Years ago the head of Finance for my agency enjoyed her pisco sours at an official Embassy event until she passed out and had to be carried back to her hotel and put to bed by some lady staffers.  Around the same time I went to La Rosa Nautica (look it up - it's on a pier in Lima over the ocean) with the wife of a Foreign Service friend who was originally from Lima and still had a family condo along the Malecon.  Maybe she weighed 100 pounds?  She quaffed down a doble and asked for another.  Are you sure, asked the waiter?  Are you sure, Jim asked?  We had food on the table and halfway through her second doble she told me she didn't feel so well.  Paid the bill and left and getting into my Jeep she started to barf.  First in the Jeep, then I took her to the edge of the parking lot where she could barf into the ocean and it was Irvin HS days all over again.  When she was "done" I drove her to her condo, carried her inside and made sure she changed clothes before getting into bed.  She didn't answer her phone until the following day.  Yes, I agree that a pisco sour is a great cocktail and will cure many ills.  On the other hand....

A few days later during her Lima visit she went with me to a cocktail-dancing party at my surfing Club Waikiki and guess what:  she stuck to sodas...no pisco sours, not even a beer.  Some years later we had lunch in WashDC and she confided that just hearing the words "pisco sour" still made her start to feel ill.  I, on the other hand, have no problems with the cocktail...in moderation.

Clark W. Schadle

Jim. way too much detail

Jim Dunlap

Here you go.  Nice to have friends in High Places!

Jim Dunlap

There is a very important point to the story.  A well-made pisco sour doesn't taste like it's alcoholic at all.  Many a visitor to Peru goes down the hard way after only a couple of them.  Be warned.

Sandra Lynn Bolling (Kretzschmar)

Nice! Enjoyed your long story. The only brand we could get here was Capel. We still have two bottles--I guess for flu emergencies. We first had it in the Amazon at an Eco Lodge. I've never attemped more than half to one drink even though they always seemed mild. 

N. Ernest Jiron

Rich - One comment on your #1607 post. My uncle use to say "getting old is not for sissy's!" He also said "they are NOT the GOLDEN YEARS.........that is rust!!"

Monica White (Bruns)