Framing Signing Party

Yesterday, I attending a Framing Signing Party, a now common party being thrown in the Southern California area, as families are rebuilding after the fire. As we rounded the corner to their property, you could see the large house framed up on the hillside. We turned in to the recently black ominous lot. The bushes were growing again and some of the oak trees had survived. The previous dome shaped house engulfed in the Southern California Wildfires, was now a new boxy entity.

My son pops out of the car with his dozen Sharpie Markers in rainbow colors, asking where he can sign the house. We greeted our friends and helped set up the food for the BBQ, while me son tugged at my shirt. Our friend told him he could write anywhere in the house, but to make sure he did a prayer upon completion. He choose the biggest wall and created symbols of protection. Little did she know she would get a whole army of Clone Troopers to protect their house.

Soon people started taking the markers, choosing the area of the house to leave their wishes. People left comments of good wishes. Some left prayers. Some left long notes. But all said a prayer, whether it was public or private that a tragedy of this sort would never happen to this family or any loved one again. The mood was of excitement for the couple to move forward with their life, the new life of this new home, yet of somberness with an empty house, the loss of possession, the loss of photos, the loss of everything.

When we left, we were once again reminded that the moments in time that we share with others is what makes up our existence. To preserve those moments in time are what we do best at Healing Through Story. Time is forever, but a moment is fleeting.

Lisa Klipfel, MA, MFT
(949) 291-2128