Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Photos of Paradise from my Friend Patricia Who Lost Her Home

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise photos

 

Patricia had a home in Paradise as well as an art studio. I met Patricia years ago when she was traveling in the south of France, she had read my blog and contacted me. I felt like a neighbor had come to visit considering Paradise near my hometown in California.

Patricia lost everything in the fire.

Recently, a photographer offered families from Paradise her services, since most of them no longer had photos of their families.

 

The photos and text below are from Patricia:

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise paradise

 

The long road home.

Patricia went to Paradise, as the roads and neighborhood were recently accessible to residents.

 

 

It flattened us... and twisted us

 

This fire exploded our community…

 

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise 22

 

It flattened us, and twisted us,

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise 77

 

…it spilled our guts,

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

 

Transformed us.

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

Ripped us from the inside out.

 

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

 

It sent us wandering in a fog of uselessness…

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§
PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

 

…and fractured every bit of what made us whole and unique.

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

 

 
 

…and melted us in the most peculiar ways.
 
 
 
 
PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§
 
 
 
Blinded us.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paradise fire photos Patricia

 

 

This monster emptied us of everything…
 
 
 
 
 
 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

 

 

 

And yet, oddly enough the hearth remains…

 

 

 

PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

 

 
 

And now as we are living like refugees,
starting to put our lives back together we all share the same grief but also the same hope
that we will be blooming in new ways,
growing in the light of the outpouring of love and generosity that continues to be shown us.
It is a new day and a new life and I am supported with hugs everywhere I go!
 
 
To make donations to the community of Paradise here is a good place, my nephew Andy works here:
 
GOLDEN VALLEY BANK
 
Golden Valley Bank is working with
 

Camp Fire Relief 
General Funds 

Please send questions to Natasha at nbeehner@goldenvalley.bank. 

Golden Valley Bank General Fund

Boys and Girls Club of the North Valley

Public Safety Workers

Butte County Sheriff Dept. Employees

Agricultural Efforts

Shelter Storage

The Last to Leave

 

and in associating with the following businesses who will donate part of their sales to Golden Valley Bank Camp Fire Victims:

 

Camp Fire Relief 
Business Partner Funds

Please send questions to Natasha at nbeehner@goldenvalley.bank.

Sierra Nevada Brewery

Fifth Sun

Lulus

Klean Kanteen

California Olive Ranch

NorthStar

Chico Electric

Associated Pension Consultants

Nor-Cal Vans

Firestorm Fire

Russell, Gallaway Associates, Inc.

Gas Transmission Systems (GTS)

GRID Alternatives North Valley

AdventureSmith Explorations

Immediate Care

Tender Loving Coffee

Alternative Energy Systems

MJB Welding Supply

Meester & Co.

 BCM Construction

Videomaker

Pathology Sciences Medical Group

Interim Healthcare

MC2

Chico Honda Motorsports

Lundberg Family Farms

Feather Falls Casino

Ray Morgan Company

Cascade Orthopedic Supply

Ferguson & Brewer Investment Co.

Morrison and Company 

 
 
 
 
 

Where will my donation go?

100% of your donation will stay local. We will be making decisions as needs arise over the next year or more.

How do I set up a fund?

We are no longer setting up Camp Fire Relief funds for individuals or organizations due to an overwhelming amount of requests.

Will any of my donation go towards administrative fees for your Foundation?

None of your donation will go towards administrative fees. There is a small fee to use PayPal services, if you choose to donate that way instead of a check.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes.  You will receive a receipt within 5-7 business days.

If you have questions, please email nbeehner@goldenvalley.bank. 

Please find donation options through multiple organizations below. Electronic transfers are accepted through PayPal.

Another option is to drop off or mail a check to either addresses below.

Please make checks payable to "GVBCF-Camp Fire". If you would like your donation to go toward a specific fund, please put the Fund's name in the memo on the check.

190 Cohasset Road, Chico, CA 95926

250 Hemsted Dr., Ste. 100 Redding, CA 96002

 

 



PATRICIA Rich Lloyd Photos of Paradise§

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

15 responses to “Photos of Paradise from my Friend Patricia Who Lost Her Home”

  1. Ardis Bucy

    Thank you for sharing this important information. Your example of goodness guides us to think of others. Blessings.

    Reply
  2. Robin

    This was perfectly written. 2 of my nieces and 2 of my nephews lost everything. My Mother, brother and sister’s homes were by some miracle all left standing. All in different areas. The devastation and loss is hard to comprehend. Thank you Corey for sharing this on your blog.

    Reply
  3. Kathie B

    “Recently, a photographer offered families from Paradise her services, since most of them no longer had photos of their families.”
    What a thoughtful idea. Most of us tend not to scan and save our treasured print photos to “the cloud” or other external location. Perhaps this would be a good New Year’s resolution for Corey’s followers?

    Reply
  4. Jacklynn Lantry

    I cannot begin to imagine the extent of such total devastation and loss. Thanks for sharing this. Donation on the way!

    Reply
  5. Diogenes

    Corey, these pictures are shocking, touching and many other emotional things. I am so sorry for your friend Patricia. The photo of the figurine is especially moving to me. Thank you for posting links to these groups that are trying to make things better.

    Reply
  6. Jeanne

    God bless them all and thank you for posting this.
    I am very sorry for Patricia and all those who lost everything. May 2019 be Merry and Bright and full of a multitude of blessings for them all.
    Love Jeanne

    Reply
  7. TEXAS francophile

    Thank you, Corey for sharing. This makes it real for those of us living far from this devastation and not even able to imagine it. Donation to be sent today.

    Reply
  8. Barbara Kelly

    Thank you for sharing such a wonderful post! I still continue to spin like a top trying to help everyone until I quiet myself and focus in one area at a time. Since I am a quilter, my efforts remain there. We hug, we listen to the stories and we donate quilts of love! We have had donations from around the country to share with the survivors! Such geneousity!

    Reply
  9. Marilyn

    Thank you, Corey! This fire has brought me to tears several times and chokes me up regularly. I have heard and seen several similar stories of friends that have lost their homes. I may have already mentioned this, but one of my friends lost her great grandmother’s dolls in the fire. I have several of the dolls from her great grandmother’s doll museum, which I will be sending her after the first of the year. It thrills my heart to be able to do little things for her. A tea friend also lost most of his farm and home. The tea community online has come together to have an auction online to raise money for him to rebuild. He says that though the tea plants are scorched the root system looks like they may come back, only time will tell. I wonder how the fire will change the plants as it is changing those humans that have survived.

    Reply
  10. Susan Matheson

    Thank you for posting Patricia’s poetically visual, tragic journey. There are as many heart-breaking stories of loss as there are people who have suffered through it, but few that have been able to relate them as graphically and movingly. This gut-wrenching experience has touched many people in this country and around the world. It is so generous of you to have published the organizations that are offering financial help. People are very generous when they only know how and where they can send donations. Thank you, Corey!

    Reply
  11. chardonnaylynn

    Bittersweet, to be sure. The loss has been unimaginable but the rescue stories and outpouring of generosity and help have been heartwarming. Gridley, “the small town that loves company,” was an evacuation center and now FEMA will be bringing 405 temporary homes to our little community. It impacts everything…….schools, businesses, traffic, etc. I am happy and honored that we can help our Paradise friends in their time of need.

    Reply
  12. Sharon Crigger-Stokan

    I am so sorry for those who lost so much in this tragic time of fires. My prayers go out to everyone. Thank you very much for sharing your friend’s pictures Corey, and for providing the links where we can help!

    Reply
  13. LeighNZ

    Gut wrenching and sad beyond words

    Reply
  14. Momof5

    Wow these photos and patricia’s words are hauntingly beautiful in the midst of such unbearable loss and destruction. Thank you for sharing this.

    Reply
  15. Patricia

    Thank you for for all the loving community, I cherish each one.❤️

    Reply

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