Approaching the one-year mark since the devastating October fires, I am practicing gratitude. Only last week did I have the heart to venture back to Deer Trail Road.
This tucked-away country road, access to which was not that long ago a wobbly wooden bridge, holds a special place for my family and for me. For more than three decades, it was there that we enjoyed, with dear friends who were the very first we made upon moving to Sonoma County, great wines with food from their gardens.
We raised children, worked hard and volunteered in our communities by day. Weekends and evenings we engaged in uplifting conversations on decks overlooking Deer Trail Road.
Traversing Mark West Springs Road past Riebli to Wallace, I observed native grasses flowing in the wind, colorful wildflowers and the burgeoning of shiny green growth on charred redwoods. Drawing near Deer Trail Road, with wonderment I observed new life sprouting from the ashes.
Vineyards now seem even more precious, considering the landscape after the fires. Burnt-out barren land that one year ago housed our neighbors is bordered by lush thriving vineyards. Vineyards that served as a firebreak now remind us of the power of nature.
Gazing at the remains of this razed earth, all I could see were memories of what was lost. Garden tours each spring as my friends proudly showed off new vegetables and exotic plants, accompanied by our children dressed as knights and chasing each other with homemade swords.
A bushy Cotinus Coggygria, with its pinkish-purple feathery plumes caught my eye. I remember when that smoke tree was planted. How ironic that it remains the sole survivor of the splendid gardens.
Feeling grateful that my friends escaped the fire and are now enjoying fruits from their garden in Oregon, I was approached by the new owner of this special place. A fireman with a young family, his reverence for the land and the task ahead with rebuilding is humbling.
We held each other and cried. Tears of thankfulness, suppleness, hope. Tears that with new growth will come greater compassion, a stronger community and desire to dig deep in allowing for differences to unite us.
He told me of his plans for the back property, which had previously been left wild. A granny unit will be constructed for his aging parents, who now live in Arizona. My heart smiled at the prospect of this family uniting in healing this land.
Knowing that I am not alone with these feelings of profound sadness over the ravages of fire and that our collective Sonoma County consciousness will soon be taking a deep dive into the pool of grief with this one year marking of time, I wondered how to counteract feelings of helplessness.
A good place to start is always with a beautiful bottle of Sonoma County wine. I will select prized bottles of wines I’ve collected to give to my friends who lost everything.
My list will extend to local firefighters and other first responders, as well as to the team of doctors who saved my life during this same time last year. While blazes were consuming our land, infection was raging throughout my bloodstream. The first one on my gratitude list is Dr. Steve Vargas.Â
Continuing my pilgrimage from Deer Trail Road through Fountaingrove, I stopped to pay homage at Paradise Ridge, a past client. I was welcomed by the statue of LOVE and acres upon acres of lush green vineyards.
Gratitude.
Join me in sharing wines you’ve acquired over the years for special occasions. Acknowledging the devastation we faced last year at this time, may we toast to a fireless healthy future and housing for all who wish to share this paradise.
Marie Gewirtz represents wine and food clients with marketing and communications in Sonoma County and throughout the world. She can be reached at [email protected].
