Bradley, CA
Dear Friends, 2/28/10
When I arrived in Bradley, population 120, I went to the CalFire station the note on the door said that they were closed until April. Good fortune was on my side and the battalion chief was there working. He introduced me to the neighbors and arrangements were made for me to pitch my tent in a strip of grass behind the houses near the tracks.
The first woman I met was Darlene. When I started to tell Jada's story tears began to well up in her eyes. I stopped speaking and began to listen to her story. She lost her granddaughter to leukemia in 1994. Her granddaughter was diagnosed when she was 3 years old. Her brother was her donor. She was 10 years old when she died. Darlene spoke about bringing her granddaughter's favorite foods to the hospital and about holding her through the physical pain. There was an understanding and connection between us because of our common experience.
After our conversation I went to the fire station where my phone was charging.
Elizabeth, another neighbor, came by and invited me to dinner with her family. They were already having guests and Elizabeth said there was plenty to go around. I had a great evening visiting with Barry, Elizabeth and Alondra. After dinner they even offered to let me have a shower. Barry is a custom auto mechanic and had lots of good ideas about our marrow mobile.
When I got back to the tent there was fruit outside left by Darlene. When I got up in the morning Darlene brought a hot cup of tea. Breakfast with the Gilmores and I was on my way again. Enriched by the people I had met in Bradley.
Dear Friends, 2/28/10
When I arrived in Bradley, population 120, I went to the CalFire station the note on the door said that they were closed until April. Good fortune was on my side and the battalion chief was there working. He introduced me to the neighbors and arrangements were made for me to pitch my tent in a strip of grass behind the houses near the tracks.
The first woman I met was Darlene. When I started to tell Jada's story tears began to well up in her eyes. I stopped speaking and began to listen to her story. She lost her granddaughter to leukemia in 1994. Her granddaughter was diagnosed when she was 3 years old. Her brother was her donor. She was 10 years old when she died. Darlene spoke about bringing her granddaughter's favorite foods to the hospital and about holding her through the physical pain. There was an understanding and connection between us because of our common experience.
After our conversation I went to the fire station where my phone was charging.
Elizabeth, another neighbor, came by and invited me to dinner with her family. They were already having guests and Elizabeth said there was plenty to go around. I had a great evening visiting with Barry, Elizabeth and Alondra. After dinner they even offered to let me have a shower. Barry is a custom auto mechanic and had lots of good ideas about our marrow mobile.
When I got back to the tent there was fruit outside left by Darlene. When I got up in the morning Darlene brought a hot cup of tea. Breakfast with the Gilmores and I was on my way again. Enriched by the people I had met in Bradley.
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