I've lived here 30 + years and been through many shitshows, from the Northridge Earthquake to Rodney King and everything in between and since. NOTHING holds a candle (no pun intended) to this. It's Apocolyptic. There is no other word for it. I know so many people who have lost their homes. And, I fear, it will put the final nail in the coffin of the movie and TV business.
Jenn, I'm heartbroken for you and the whole city. But as usual, your writing really crystallizes things. I'm a New Yorker and remember the feeling of 9/11 vividly, I am so sorry you are experiencing that shit show a second time (minus Bush and Cheney, but still...). Hugs.
I'm heartbroken, like everyone else. I live a couple of blocks from the "Go" zones. A friend and neighbor is close friends with a couple who lost their home of 45 years. They had built a Japanese garden, restored an Airstream, and collected books and art and a full life, and it's all gone. Not the life, thankfully. They'll be moving into our neighborhood (we live in a courtyard). My friend said when they walked inside their soon-to-be home, her friend commented how beautiful the place was and that she felt so lucky. Imagine losing every single material thing you own and feeling lucky. I'm excited to be her neighbor.
Toggling between the news of LA and Jimmy Carter's funeral had me in tears all day long. Just weeping, heaving sobs. It was shattering to see the past of such a great man with so much beautiful service...and then our world right now -- literally on fire. It broke my heart in a million ways. Sending all kinds of love and hope to you and everyone and everything -- I have dear friends in Los Feliz and cherish my memories of your glorious city.
Take care of you and yours Jenn and 100% on not toxic positivitying the way through this. Also 100% not dropping Substack subscriptions of authors who are impacted and can't post right now - for whatever reason.
Survivor guilt is real. Know that many of us in Western North Carolina understand devastation beyond measure from hurricane helene. Like your area, we will never be the same.
My prayer is that you experience neighbor helping neighbors as we have. May God's grace and mercy be on you.
The shifting patterns of flight fight freeze continue as you wake up each day grappling with every changing needs.
It is real. The grief comes quickly for some and delayed for others.
Sometimes you wonder if you are doing enough to help and sometimes the loss is so great it is a helpless state. There will be tears of anger, tears of gratitude, tears of loss and then dry eyes during times of intense labor.
There will be adrenaline and eventual exhaustion.
You will want to leave, only to want to return.
The trauma is messy, but may you see beauty in the eyes of the helpers who show up expecting nothing in return.
Praying for you all.
Western North Carolina gets it. We stand with you.
I so glad to hear you and yours are safe and your new home is still standing. Thank you for that list of places to donate. I have been mesmerized by the footage of the damage. It reminds me of London during the blitz only worse because there's no one to hate like one could hate Hitler. And thank you for keeping us posted. I think you're right––L.A. will never be the same. California will never be the same. I know everything changes, but please, not like this.
Heartbroken for LA. I will be sharing this list with the Glorious Broad tribe so that maybe we can mend it up a hair. Have seen nothing nothing like this. To you and your loved ones, MJ
I live in Brentwood and my house is ok but I've been sheltering elsewhere since Tuesday in abject terror and despair for so many of my friends. Utter devastation.
I've lived here 30 + years and been through many shitshows, from the Northridge Earthquake to Rodney King and everything in between and since. NOTHING holds a candle (no pun intended) to this. It's Apocolyptic. There is no other word for it. I know so many people who have lost their homes. And, I fear, it will put the final nail in the coffin of the movie and TV business.
Jenn, I'm heartbroken for you and the whole city. But as usual, your writing really crystallizes things. I'm a New Yorker and remember the feeling of 9/11 vividly, I am so sorry you are experiencing that shit show a second time (minus Bush and Cheney, but still...). Hugs.
I'm heartbroken, like everyone else. I live a couple of blocks from the "Go" zones. A friend and neighbor is close friends with a couple who lost their home of 45 years. They had built a Japanese garden, restored an Airstream, and collected books and art and a full life, and it's all gone. Not the life, thankfully. They'll be moving into our neighborhood (we live in a courtyard). My friend said when they walked inside their soon-to-be home, her friend commented how beautiful the place was and that she felt so lucky. Imagine losing every single material thing you own and feeling lucky. I'm excited to be her neighbor.
Toggling between the news of LA and Jimmy Carter's funeral had me in tears all day long. Just weeping, heaving sobs. It was shattering to see the past of such a great man with so much beautiful service...and then our world right now -- literally on fire. It broke my heart in a million ways. Sending all kinds of love and hope to you and everyone and everything -- I have dear friends in Los Feliz and cherish my memories of your glorious city.
Take care of you and yours Jenn and 100% on not toxic positivitying the way through this. Also 100% not dropping Substack subscriptions of authors who are impacted and can't post right now - for whatever reason.
Survivor guilt is real. Know that many of us in Western North Carolina understand devastation beyond measure from hurricane helene. Like your area, we will never be the same.
My prayer is that you experience neighbor helping neighbors as we have. May God's grace and mercy be on you.
The shifting patterns of flight fight freeze continue as you wake up each day grappling with every changing needs.
It is real. The grief comes quickly for some and delayed for others.
Sometimes you wonder if you are doing enough to help and sometimes the loss is so great it is a helpless state. There will be tears of anger, tears of gratitude, tears of loss and then dry eyes during times of intense labor.
There will be adrenaline and eventual exhaustion.
You will want to leave, only to want to return.
The trauma is messy, but may you see beauty in the eyes of the helpers who show up expecting nothing in return.
Praying for you all.
Western North Carolina gets it. We stand with you.
Much love and peace
I so glad to hear you and yours are safe and your new home is still standing. Thank you for that list of places to donate. I have been mesmerized by the footage of the damage. It reminds me of London during the blitz only worse because there's no one to hate like one could hate Hitler. And thank you for keeping us posted. I think you're right––L.A. will never be the same. California will never be the same. I know everything changes, but please, not like this.
Heartbroken for LA. I will be sharing this list with the Glorious Broad tribe so that maybe we can mend it up a hair. Have seen nothing nothing like this. To you and your loved ones, MJ
I live in Brentwood and my house is ok but I've been sheltering elsewhere since Tuesday in abject terror and despair for so many of my friends. Utter devastation.
Oh Jenn ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Holding space—
((fellow Angelino here, and yes, news like this it hits me—))
I am so, so sorry. Thank you for sharing this view of LA. ❤️
thinking of you all ❤️
I am so sorry for you and everyone living through all of this loss and trauma. Is there some specific way to help Liz?
Incredibly painful to live through, and to witness. Thank you for writing this. There aren't efficient words to describe my sorrow.