I helped my friends @bkahnhaus & @katiepo7 search for their engagement ring today, the proverbial needle-in-the-haystack amongst the rubble of their house in the foothills of Altadena. After three hours of digging and sifting, we came up empty-handed. The devastation of the Eaton Fire is hard to put into words. It is miles of colorless wreckage, a Martian landscape marked by chimney gravestones. Occasionally, the stark white outline of a Tyvek ghost can be seen in the distance, the past lives who lived there, shuffling through, looking for all of the forgotten things they’ve lost. Altadena was special for so many reasons. It was a place with no shortage of flora, wild life, rivers, parks, horse stables, hiking trails, and a wonderful mix of old and new, hope and history. More than anything, for me, it was the friends and fellow parents who shared space, toys, and parenting tips at Charles Farnsworth Park almost every single day, introducing our children to each other and to the growing neighborhood of wishful families. Kate and Ben are undoubtedly a part of my Altadena love and pride. They are the real needle-in-the-haystack: a friendship in a moment of time when everything felt full of possibilities. I love you guys. I’m sorry. Kate & Ben have a GoFundMe. Please consider donating. https://gofund.me/af601621