[or-roots] photographs

[Leslie Chapman]

Happy Birthday Diane;

Yes, have them handy. I have about 2000 slides in carousels "somewhere" in
the attic, NO BACKUP, they were taken all over Oregon, Washington, a trip to
Alaska in 1978 with my dad and others, and 3 1/2 years all over the middle
east, except for the last years worth I lost before getting home. In spite
of the fact we live here in the rain forest of the Oregon coast sometimes it
gets dry, I even went so far as to build a firebreak up both sides of the
mouth of the canyon as my biggest fear is some idiot passerby on the highway
starting a fire just out of sight of the mouth of my canyon and when I
realize it's comeing all I have time for is to run for my life, it is only a
hundred yards or so to the river but if it is a solid wall of fire, even
that could be tough. My biggest fear was the summer I thought about trying
that with my wifes 96 year old gram on my back. Back to the fotos, to get to
them I must go to the other end of the house down a narrow hall, climb the
too steep stairs to the shop which is usually a maze and has a ceiling joist
level slightly below eye height on me, enter the attic bedroom, open the
door to the attic, just a frame of 1 x 2 with plywood nailed on it jammed
into the doorway, find where the wife currently has moved them to and try to
run out of THAT with two big boxes of slide carousels. I don't think I would
even try, the sad thing is if this house ever catches fire, I might risk it,
I know I can breath flame, but chances probably wouldnt' be good. On the
bright side all my photo alkbums and negatives except last 4 or 5 un
processed years worth ARE by the door, if I can only remember which binder
they are.

Prepared ness is NOT my middle name.

This all reminds me of a story about a house fire in my family from before I
was born, I believe it was Aunt Sadie was trying to save either Grandma or
Great Grandma's china when the house caught fire, she was frantically
dashing it into the bottom of a box from the cupboard; long story short the
fire got saved but the china was a total write off, she broke either every
peice or nearly every piece, I know if any got saved it was what she didn't
get to.

Mom and Dad used that story a number of times when I was growing up to
emphasize the idea that in a panic situation it wasn't always a good idea to
jump first and think later.

Les C

-----Original Message-----
From: Diane
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 2:45 PM



I want to emphasize this...keep your photographs in a safe and easily
accessed location.  Here were we live, 2 years ago, were devastating forest
fires.  We had to move out rather rapidly.  Thankfully we only lost some
fences and pasture.  Our homes were saved as were all our out buildings.
Our neighbors were not so fortunate  No one lost their home, but there was
not much else left.  Most barns were saved.  The danger was extreme.

When it came time to leave,we had to pull out  FAST, I had my photographs in
different locations.  When we moved back in---they are now in 2 locations.
One by a door.  Once again, we had time to take what we wanted to save.
But, at a time like that, no matter how well you think you are prepared, you
are not.  I like to think I am super organized and can easily put my hand on
anything I want.  Well, that was good for about 50% of the time that day.

I was helping my husband move heavy equipment to help the neighbors when the
fire rapidly advanced to us...I was stuck on the other side of the inferno
and had to drive---at a rather rapid rate, the rig was loaded heavy with
diesel fuel---thro the flames for about a 1/2 mile to get home.  Loving
friends had come into our home, knowing where I was and where my husband
was, and just packed our precious belongings.  Because I had the photographs
in 3 locations then....one was missed.  And this was the 100+ year old
photos.  Most of the very old photographs are identified on my husbands
side...but my side----so many photographs and no names.  I just know they
are relatives.

Today is #65 for me and I am most reminiscent.....thinking of my loving
ancestors.

Diane

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