Lesava's blog: "Nikki's Views"

By the time we got to Lynne's, it had been one week since the fire. We stayed at a hotel on the way to their place that sixth day, we couldn't make it all the way, we were so tired. We had our first shower in 6 days, Bruiser got to sleep on the floor in one of his beds, in between our two queen beds in the hotel room, and we passed out. We got to Lynne's the next morning, and her and Dennis both came out to hug us. We took things out of the car, and took them to the music room in their home. It has a queen bed, an air mattress, and room for Bruiser's playpen, as well as a half bath to use. They have a fireplace in their front room, and you would think that after the fire we wouldn't want to be near it, but it was oddly comforting to have it, it was so homey, and helped us relax. 

I realized after we got here that I hadn't cried since it started, I really hadn't. I talked with friends and family, let them know where we were and that we were ok, and I still hadn't cried. It wasn't until I talked to Scott, my oldest friend from school, since kindergarden, and I started to cry when I heard his voice. Not a lot, but just a little bit. Just hearing his voice hit me so hard. I only cried for a moment, not like I thought I would. I talked to my therapist Sarah late in the third week, and she says it will hit me sometime, and hard. Sarah's home was spared, but with nothing left in town, I wonder what she will decide to do. 

The second week was settling in here in Oregon, and buying things we needed: clothes, meds, etc. Also making phone calls to update insurance on where we were. We went to lunch, and met a friend of Lynne and Dennis', Ed, who is become a very good friend. We also met up again with Lynne's friend John and met his wife for lunch another day. John had been down to our house the weekend before the fire to shoot a music video there with Lynne, and had video footage of the house! He gave us a copy of the footage to take with us when we met with insurance. 

Watching the news reports, and seeing all the devastation was just unnerving. Hearing what happened from the outside, Mom and I realized we were damn lucky to get out when we did. We still didn't know officially about our home. I started contacting the reporters that had interviewed me, and the weatherman from our local station in Chico that I was friends with on Twitter, and asked if they could have their people go up to our area to see if our house was there. I found out later that no one had access to our area except police, National Guard, CalFire, etc. Just officials, which I understood, but it was so frustrating. 

We made an appointment to go back down to Chico to meet with our outside adjuster at a local restaurant down there 10 days after the fire to get the numbers down on the house structure. We met my brother John there as well, since he knew our house inside and out, and helped with things at the meeting. We then checked in with FEMA, which took forever, but it wasn't a wasted trip there. I went to the Town of Paradise table they had set up, and asked how people were getting pics of their houses; we still didn't have any official word on our house, and we needed to know. She looked our house up, and was able to show me an official picture. I still didn't cry, I was in a little shock, but I knew it was going to be gone, it couldn't have survived. I went to where Mom was, sent her to the table, and called my uncle to let him know we had picture verification after 10 days of not knowing for sure. I let the insurance guys know, and they said text the pic to them ASAP so we could get payments started. We then went to Carl's, ate with John and his friend Rachel. After doing what we needed to do, we started making our way home the same day. 4 ½ hours down, did our stuff, then 3 hours back up. We stopped for the night at a hotel. While we were there I went to the website the lady at Town of Paradise went to, and downloaded the pic of our house to send to family, friends, and the insurance guys. I texted that to everyone, and knowing Bruiser was safe with Lynne and Dennis, we slept and got back the next morning. Two days later, I got payment for my car from GEICO into my account by direct deposit. One obstacle was completed, but it was beginning of the war.........