A few days after the recent fires erupted in Mendocino
County, three of us who work for the Ukiah newspaper were decompressing in
Black Oak Coffee when one of the owners walked up to our table.
“I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ for all that you guys are
doing,” he said. “You probably aren’t getting a lot of sleep right now, so I
appreciate all the information you are providing.”
That was cool.
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| Photo by Chris Pugh - Ukiah Daily Journal |
But what was even cooler was how much space in the coffee
shop had been devoted to making sure that anyone who needed help would know
where to find it.
Outside, a sign invited evacuees to enjoy a free cup of
coffee. Inside, much of the free counter and wall space was devoted to signs explaining
where to find food, clothing, toiletries, a place to sleep and even a place for
kids to play indoors.
For those without a way to access the internet, an iPad was set
up on the counter for anyone to get the latest information on the fires, since
at the time they were nowhere near under control.
All of these were small gestures to be sure, but I find the
small, unobtrusive gestures – ones that don’t require you to ask for or even accept
them – to be the most comforting. I know one of the first things I’d look for a
day or two after being chased from my home would be a calm place where I could
sit and drink some good coffee while everyone went about their normal lives.
Seeing people eating, gossiping about their day and
yes, even buried in their phones, would be a much-needed reminder that the world was
still spinning and eventually my life would return to normal as well.
But in the meantime, I’d know exactly where to get some
shampoo and toothpaste, all without anyone knowing I had needed anything more than
a cup of coffee.
