Once again I think Mom left me a cryptic message. Since her death in late March, Iâve been working hard to organize the fifty years of paperwork that chronicles Momâs life work as a community volunteer, preservationist, historian and docent. I have spent hours sorting through Momâs decades of paperwork, stacking, and refilling, sometime even shredding the nits and bits from the overflowing files and boxes.
Last week I was organizing her office supplies, stacking new legal pads, crisp manila envelopes, and fresh file folders in boxes, when I came across a well-worn folder. It seemed odd to find this dog-eared folder stuck in the middle of new ones. Momâs paperwork is cluttered, for sure, but I have noticed that there is some organization among the disorganization.
I am still grieving over the immeasurable loss of Mom, and now that grief has deepened with the inexpressible loss of Taoist Temple Museum artifacts due to a devastating fire two weeks ago. The fire nightmare still plays in my mind in an endless loop. I find myself, even now, shaking and crying as I type.
On Wednesday evening, May 12, Steve and I received a phone call around 10:30 p.m. alerting us that the Taoist Temple Museum was on fire. We rushed to the Alley, calling my brother, Damon, on the way.
Arriving at the Alley, I was terrified that all of our Sleeping Beauties would soon be engulfed in flames, the fire was so large that both the Hanford and Kings County fire departments were present. I took out my phone and started filming. Watching it later, I heard the howls and deep guttural sounds I was making as tears coursed down my face.
Fire Destroys Artifacts, Damages Upstairs Of Historic Taoist Temple In Hanford kvpr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kvpr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
I donât know what Iâm going to do without Mom.
She has died and I am in a world of grief. When Dad passed away four years ago, a part of my heart was irretrievably broken. With Mom gone, I feel as though Iâve lost part of my soul. I can barely think.
In my early twenties I befriended an older woman who had a curious crease on her right cheek. One day she told me that when her mother died she cried so much she broke a muscle in that cheek. At the time, I wasnât sure such a thing might even be possible. Today, I am sure it is.
HANFORD â After a few months of hard work, the Carnegie Museum of Kings County is making headway on its goal to preserve the museum for the community.
The organization, which was formed by a group of concerned residents who banded together after learning of financial difficulties at the Hanford Carnegie Museum last summer, already has its own website up.
Jack Schwartz, a resident of Hanford and president of the Carnegie Museum of Kings County, said a small group of dedicated researchers and writers has been built and they are working to curate virtual exhibits in one easily accessible place.
In addition to a virtual exhibit on the history of the Carnegie Museum library building itself, an exhibit about the Kings County Sheriffâs Office and its history as well as a âThen and Nowâ exhibit of the county, are in the beginning stages on the website.