Hi, everyone. It's Megan. This is my latest audio essay about the aftermath of the Los Angeles

wildfires. As most of you know, I was living in Altadena when my house was lost on January 8th.

Anyway, today is February 13th. I finally have my voice mostly back after a solid week, at least,

of laryngitis, like complete laryngitis. I could not talk at all. And at least two weeks

of a terrible cold that seems to be going around. Last week, because I couldn't talk,

I broke down and posted a written essay, the horror.

I actually had to write something instead of an audio essay.

But I'm glad to be talking with you again.

As it happens, it is my birthday.

And while I have never been a big birthday celebrator, I have to admit it feels a little

extra uncelebratory today. Ha ha,

fooled you. You thought I was going to say, it feels extra celebratory because I'm so grateful.

I'm so grateful for what I have. I am. I am grateful, actually, you know, to be alive and

healthy. Getting to this age, you know, at a certain point if you get to any age, it's better than the alternative, right?

That's a cliche that I guess people say for a reason.

Anyway, I'm grateful to have a roof over my head, even if I've been shuffling between rooms.

And again, I'm really thankful for the incredible generosity of so many of my friends and so many of

you guys, my listeners and readers, even those of you who are complete strangers. But I can say that

I've hit a bit of a wall lately because of all the different places I've stayed. My mail and my packages are all over

the place and I feel like I do nothing but drive around retrieving things from various

addresses. I have some leads on more permanent housing, but it's often the kind of thing where

it seems like a pretty good situation,

...