Orange Moon In Portland

     The day before yesterday while scrolling down my Facebook page I came across the above photograph, haunting and beautiful,  taken by Alisa Looney,

...a Portland, Oregon, artist,

...who is a good friend of my sister, Romaine.

     I was captivated by the picture and, thinking the script written above it was a little commentary on the provenance of the photo (which it was), I read only the first sentence, "Orange moon in Portland," without reading the rest. I likewise didn't read any of the comments but just left a comment of my own:  "Pretty."
     A little while later I checked my phone to see that I had a voice message from Romaine asking me if I knew what was going on in Portland.
     I didn't, so I immediately called her to find out.  She told me that at that moment outside her window the skies were dark and ash was falling from the skies like black snow flakes. Inside her house the air was hazy from the ash that had seeped in and was settling onto everything. 
     Outside the temperature was 90 degrees, though the sunshine couldn't break through the layer of ash overlaying the sky.

     A photo of the mid-day sun behind the Portland Convention Center.

     Portland was suffering, and continues to suffer, the effects of the Eagle Creek Wildfire, which sparked to life last Saturday in the Columbia River Gorge 30 miles east of Portland,

...and has turned a scenic natural wonder,

...into an inferno,

---

..that has destroyed forests, homes and  structures along the Gorge,

...and has forced the evacuations of hundreds of homes,

...the flames even jumping  the Columbia River into Washington.

     It is believed that a 15-year-old visiting the area with a group of friends last Saturday threw a firecracker into the Gorge, which set off flames on the dry wood of the drought-stricken trees.  He and his friends posted the prank online.
     The fire has been creeping west towards Portland and has caused the closure of Interstate 84 between the Columbia River Gorge and the city.  It is believed that, though beneficial wind conditions  and a good rain could come along to help contain the fire's reach, The Eagle Creek Wildfire will continue to burn at least until the end of the month with little firefighters can do to contain it in its immensity.

   And so now people in Portland, Oregon are praying for rain,

....while I think of my sister and pray for a miracle that could blow a hurricane 3,500 miles northwest.

References:
http://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/index.ssf/2017/09/eagle_creek_fire_rages_in_colu.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/09/06/eagle-creek-oregon-fire/636282001/

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/06/us/oregon-fire-teenager/index.html

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