Memories In The Rubble

Katie Couric Accompanies A Woman Back Home -- To Destruction

(CBS)  It was nicknamed “Shangri-la,” a place where life is supposed to approach perfection.

But on Sunday, wildfires overcame Christie Williams’ dream house, reducing it to smoldering ashes.

“It looks like the moon,” she told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. “The ground just looks like the moon.”

Couric accompanied Williams on her first trip back to the home she shared with her husband and three young children, it was as if she was on an archeological dig.

"Our microwave, brand new microwave right there," she said.

But this time, she was sifting for pieces of her life.

“You know what, if you have to start with a ladle,” she said. “If you gotta start somewhere, right.”

Was she able to take anything with her when she evacuated?

“I got the hard drive to my computer,” Williams said. “I got a couple of books of pictures that I took before I had a digital camera. But I wasn't able to get the 2nd container and it had all the pictures of my little one, my baby, she just turned a year. All of her firsts. Her first everything. I don't have anything from her first smiles, her first laughs.”

What did this house mean to her and her family?

"Well I guess about a year in the marriage we bought this house. And we worked so hard to be able to live here," she said. "I loved it."

For every step through the rubble, there was a story.

“My kids made this for my husband for Father’s Day,” she said. “Their handprints."

And everywhere, signs of loving, devoted parents.

“My husband spent a lot of time on this play set right here. Built it from scratch,” she said. “It was so cool."

With each remembrance of things past, there were questions about the future.

“And when I told Leela that our house wasn't there anymore, she said, ‘what about my playset?’” Williams said. “And I said ‘its gone.’ And she said, ‘my daddy worked really really hard on that.’"

But amidst the rubble, a spirited vow to go on.

"You never want go to a brand new house. I love the old homes; I love the quirkiness. But I guess I'm just going to have to change what I love, and adapt," Williams said.

If you want to help the Williams family, click here to get to their Web page.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by airmanc5 at 09:41 PM : Oct 24, 2007

You really made their day, airmanc5. They should return the favor and tell you after some accident has removed both your arms and legs that you should be greatful that it wasn''t worse. But I doubt they would and neither will I, just THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE..

[ericmichael1]

"The only people to blame are the people themselves...total stupidity." -Airman

Would you say these things in that way to the people who have lost Everything? You are like Job''s three friends: "It''s all YOUR fault."

If a tornado blows through someone''s house in the Midwest: "You shouldn''t have had a house THERE."

If a hurricane takes out a Florida county: "You shouldn''t have had your house THERE."

Have some pity on those who didn''t ask for this to happen to them. In fact, many homes were lost because of malicious arsonists.

"Do you really think Katie Courics remarks bother her, of course not..."

I don''t believe that Katie''s remarks are insensitive and insulting. I believe that anonymous bloggers, who would speak more respectfully to their own pets, write some of the most insensitive and insulting blog entries, perhaps thinking that it is acceptable as long as they are nameless and faceless.

Vulgarity, lack of manners, repeating oneself again and again so as not to give others freedom of expression: that is insensitive and insulting to others.

The point of the whole story is that there are thousands of nameless, faceless volunteers and professionals risking their lives to protect thousands of others who are nameless and faceless.

And that is reaching to the highest part of men and women, a height where rudeness, slander and vulgarity dare not tread.

Hang in there, Katie. Our prayers are with the victims.

Eric

[whispyseas]

'' ...

if war rapes babies and the u.s. invests more into domestic warfare than most countries combined invest globally in warfare, then how is it so many great folk take to the front pages and flaunt the one military in the world that blows out more three year old *** than most countries combined while calling that security?

and if making folk pay for lunch is so lucrative, why has nearly each u.s. farm been forclosed on or sold to avoid forclosure?

and why do folk build companys with cheap labor, turn up their noses at cheap labor, starve third world countrys, then pay to move their companys to third world countrys for the purpose of hiring cheap labor?

... ''

'' ...

if the world''s ''favorite'' government and media outlets are so tolerant and respectful and so equal opportunity, how is that all the lazy naked ignorant profane promiscuous blemished kids were made to disappear? forever!?

... ''

'' ... 33 sick beds per night @ 33 villages of 300 for 3.3 cents to 1.00 dollar tip per sick bed / village ... @ 1.3 billion sick beds and 6.5 billion folk, there should be 5 folk rallied around any sick bed at anytime (dancing hike naked dance dressed get well feed world porn songs and dancing hike naked dance dressed get sick tax world porn songs too) ... ''

[friends777]

FOR THE WILLIAM''S FAMILY GOD BLESS YOU! DON''T WORRY IT ALL WORK''S OUT IF YOUHAVE FAITH. MY HOUSE BURNT DOWN WITH NO WARNING NO INSURANCE SAVING NOTHING. BUT THE LORD WAS THERE HE SAID HE WAS STILL IN THE MIRICLE BUSSINESS [AND HE STILL IS]FOR ME NOT TO WORRY HE WAS GOING TO HANDLE IT WELL YOU SHOULD SEE MY HOUSE NOW IT IS BIGGER THAT BEFORE AND NICER HE NEVER ALLOW''S SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN WITH OUT BETTER COMING IN KEEP YOUR EYE''S ON HIM TELL HIM WHAT YOU WANT AND HAVE FAITH LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BELIEVING FOR AND I WILL ALSO PRAY FOR THAT [WE DIDN''T HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN IT IS PAID FOR NOTHING OWED HAVE FAITH I AM PRAYING FOR YOU GUY''S GOOD HAS TO COME NOW THE FAITH OF THE MUSTARD SEED CAN MOVE THE MOUNTAIN THAT IS THE SIZE OF A PIN DOT CAN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH FAITH IN A TIME LIKE THIS YES YOU CAN I KNOW YOU CAN BECAUSE I DID!!!

[petersemkiw]

Dear Katie,
Your interview with Christie Williams was a sobering reminder of how devastating it is to loose a home, as well as many of the personal possessions and keepsakes of the past, but thankfully Christie Williams and her family are alive, and have survived the terrible catastrophe of these fires. Our thoughts and prayers are with Christie Williams and her family and all the people of Southern California affected by these fires, and with the brave firefighters and support personnel who are risking their lives on a daily basis fighting these blazes. As Governor Schwarzenegger said, we pray that the strong winds subside, and the fires can be brought under control as soon as possible. And we hope that the responses of the federal and state governments to the needs of the people of Southern California will be quick and effective in helping them battle and control the fires, and then help them effectively implement rebuilding and recovery efforts,
Peter

[nurse_nan]

For the Christie Williams'' Family ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
People come together/For always and forever.
In sickness and in health/In poverty or in wealth.
People come together/For always and forever.
Without any reason/Anytime or any season.
In loss or kindness/Whether all seeing or blindness.
People come together/For always and forever.
Whether work or for play/They somehow find a way.
For friends to come together/Because families are forever.
From my family to yours Christie ~ ~ you are in our thoughts and prayers here in Indiana. Stay strong and know your blessings are working for you and yours!
Sincerely, Nan Eichenberger
Chesterton, Indiana