When Mary Jane Engman arrived here Monday morning after a long drive around closed roads to evacuate their San Diego home, she wore her usual cheerful smile and tote bag on her arm. There was one little box in their trunk. Opto 22 founder Bob Engman toted only a bag of dog food. "Is this all you brought?" I asked them. "Just dog food?"
Mr. Engman looked at their Boston Terriers, Ben and Amy, who did seem a bit more agitated than usual as they bounced around the Opto 22 lobby. "Well, THEY knew something was up this morning, and I couldn't get them to eat." I think I might've detected a bit of a frown on Ben's cute little mug.
Mrs. Engman explained that they had all their data backed up on CDs, so she'd grabbed some insurance papers just in case.
"But what about all your... stuff?"
She smiled again and waved her delicate hand. "Oh, they're just things. They can be replaced."
The Engmans have not yet been able to return to their home, along with several other Opto 22 employees who have been calling home faxes and answering machines, hoping to hear familiar beeps or an un-melted recording from the other end of the line. Odd how our automated devices can function to help us in ways we never imagined.
This Wednesday morning the view out my window here in the engineering department is lovely as always, even with the eerie orange glow from the sun filtering through the smoke. From here, I can see the sand volleyball court, the putting green, and the big trees and picnic benches in our park-like "backyard." Yes, the Engmans spoil us just a tiny bit--you'll never meet a more generous couple.
Ironically, one of the many ways they give back to the local community is to allow the CDF (California Department of Forestry) firefighters to use the sand volleyball court. Just last week I appreciated those firefighters in an entirely different way than we're all appreciating them now. As I ogled from the parking lot on the way to my car, one of the firefighters driving a big red truck smiled big and waved at me. I blushed and forgot how to use my car keys.
This week, my own home thankfully is far from the threatened areas, and I have a houseful of evacuees, including a World War II POW survivor and his three-legged dog named Shadow.
This morning I emailed our gal in accounting, who's good with the fax, to ask if the Engman's machine answered again today. The answer: Yes. Ditto for all the other Opto houses out there. So far.
Thank you, favorite CDF volleyball players, and all the other men and women out there, still battling. We look forward to your safe return.
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