Glimmers from the Ashes

Lessons learned in 2025

Written by Jess, Edited by Jenna

It’s been a year, literally and figuratively.

January 7, 2025. A date we will never forget. Not only did we lose our Palisades home, but our entire community, friends, schools, and so much more. Everything we loved, owned, cherished - gone in a few hours. Even a year later, it’s impossible to wrap our heads around it. So many emotions - anger, frustration, sadness, disbelief. But through the immense pain, there have been some Glimmers:

• Music heals: Jelly Roll’s lyrics, “I’m not okay, but it’s all gonna be alright” will always be our fire anthem. Singing it at the top of our lungs with tears streaming down our faces at the LA Fire Aid concert was devastating, yet cathartic. Just when you think you don’t have the words, a song does. So if you are feeling down or need a boost, pump up the music. It may be just what you need to believe “it’s all gonna be alright”.

• Community matters: We miss our community. The people we saw every day. Walking our dog, Moose. Running into Gelson’s or the UPS store. Playing sports at the rec center. It’s the people who make a town. And absolutely what we miss desperately. Before the fire, I didn’t think that much about the importance of community, but now it’s absolutely the reason we are rebuilding our home in the Palisades.

• Our bodies hold our stress: First, it was my knee. Then my neck and shoulders. No doubt the stress and trauma of the fires and the aftermath of it all were being felt in my body. The mind/body connection is absolutely real. Pay attention to it, especially during difficult times.

• Pause during transitions: Transitions are an inevitable part of life. They move from an end to a messy middle and then a new beginning. For us, the end was abrupt and shocking. And while we were so focused on the overwhelming to-do list and trying to move forward, it was important to slow down and process the pain. Fire fog was indeed real. Pausing to journal, talking to a therapist, and reconnecting with Pali friends were crucial in the healing process.

• Advocate for yourself: Dealing with the aftermath of the fire was a lot. Whether it was finding housing, dealing with insurance, or getting building permits, we had to stay organized and advocate for ourselves. Using our voice (kindly, of course) to ensure things moved forward absolutely mattered.

• Schools can be in a Sears building: Not only did our teens lose their house and community, but they also lost their school, Pali High. While 4 months of Zoom school brought back Covid PTSD, it was going back to school that brought my kids back to life. Even if school was in an abandoned Sears building! So a huge thank you to everyone who literally rebuilt a department store to bring our kids back to school. In person with their friends and teachers. Exactly where they belong.

Recently, this quote hit hard… “If you didn’t go through what you went through, you wouldn’t be here now. It’s part of your story.” The Pali fire does not define us, but will forever be part of our story. #Palistrong