“Napa: The Story of an American Eden” by James Conaway

I’m so very sad and anxious about the North Bay fires. During the day I am fine because I work at a hospice where I deal with patients, nurses and doctors, many in the fire plagued areas. It feels productive to be a work, talking and problem solving with people who are being evacuated. However, at night, worry overwhelms me because I live in Marin County, just south of the fires. I start preparing for our evacuation by packing little boxes that contain my dad’s St Christopher medal, the boutonniere Jeff wore at our wedding, baby pictures of my girls and the watch Jeff gave me on our wedding day. All of these things can fit in a small backpack, but they are just things. What matters most are living things - people and pets. Friends and families are not only loosing their homes they are losing their lives, and this fire feels catastrophic and never ending. It was hard to find a book to write about this week but I selected this one. “Napa: The Story of an American Eden” by James Conaway. This best seller is a book about two families who put this region on the map. The tale of the Gallos and the Mondavis is a drama about fortunes and feuds, land and legacies. I look forward to a time when these fires will stop completely. Then we can pick up the pieces, and raise a glass of wine in celebration of the rebuilt towns that were destroyed during this terrible week. To purchase this book on Amazon click here.