12 months ago, under a sky black with smoke and ash, our world changed: so much tragedy occurred on one day out of hell.

In my mind's eye, I can still see the old Marysville, still smell the crisp mountain air tinged with woodsmoke, and wander through the rooms of the old Ranch. A sound, a smell, a feel to the air takes me back to before that horrible day.

In the aftermath there was so much hope and determination, and so much restoration of faith in humanity as we helped our own. And just as the bush recovers, so will all those little towns, covering the burned, blackened memories with new growth. My own family have been in discussions with builders and architects in order to rebuild. Progress is slow, but it is progress nonetheless.

Nothing will be the same again.. but it will be good again, in time.

We will NEVER forget Black Saturday... and we WILL return.

Good luck. I can't even imagine what it must be like for you - and I have pointedly ignored the news today because I just can't handle seeing all that footage again. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.

Solidarity, sister.

Erin.
::righteous babe::

Right back at you. I can't imagine how you must be feeling, having lost someone to the fires, with it so prominent in the news.

I still need to know; for me, it's part of the healing. Not the Royal Commission blame-game, but the eyewitness accounts. It makes me cry, too, but the need to know why, and how, and see the stories of recovery is far greater.

If you need to talk, or simply get hugs from someone who went through similar, you know where I am. *hug*