My day with Haskell, and it was a really good day.

It all started last night, while watching the wild fires in the area on TV. Thought about my daughters co worker, that lives near/in Luther. I called my daughter, and we talked about what we saw on TV. She was watching channel 5, while I was watching 9.

We decided to meet up in the morning and go to a shelter, to see, if there was someone that needs a place to stay. We both have a room someone could use...

She came over this morning, and we took her car to drive to the shelter for fire evacuees from the Luther area. There, we signed up to take an evacuee, if there was a need.

We met Norma, and Haskell.

Norma was on her way home last night, when she got stopped at the Luther shelter. Her car is still at the first shelter, it had died. The town was closed down. Later, that shelter was relocated, cause of the smoke in the area. That is when she and Haskell were driven to the next location by a sheriffs deputy.

Haskell was at the first shelter, cause his house burned down.

Both had just the clothes on their back.

Norma needed to get to work. She could not get home, Luther was without power, and still shut down.

My daughter volunteered to drive her to work. Oh, by the way, she was right! My daughter that is. She had said, we should drive in separate cars.

Haskell was still making phone calls, trying to figure out where to go next. I offered him my spare room, to collect his self, and figure out what to do next. I promised him, I would pick him up around noon, and let my daughter drop me off at home on their way to Normas work.

I made up the bed, while at home, and picked up some stuff that needed putting away, before driving back out to the shelter on Choctaw road.

Here, I was asked to hold off for a bit, an "important person" was expected, and since most fire refugees were at work, they really didn't want to have the place empty when the important person arrived.

Thus, I hung out for a bit.

Well, Haskell and I finally left close to noon. Since he needed clothes, we drove to the County Barn, where donations are being accepted for the fire victims. He picked out some clothes, and towels, and we left. I proposed to drive to Luther, where he thought he might be able to get a house to rent... but he didn't want to go. So, I headed off towards OKC. About 5 miles down the road he changed his mind, and I made a u turn and drove towards Luther. Along the way, we stopped for Haskell to buy his self a cell phone.

Called Ray ( his landlord ) and met him at the house. It isn't in the best shape, and he had planned on doing some work on it, but it is sooo much more than Haskell has, and he now has a new to him place to live.

It has heat, ac, stove and a fridge, but nothing else.

Thinking, thinking... I remember seeing silverware at the county barn, and I tell Haskell, lets go back, and see what else they have, that you need.

We head out. Stop at mickey d's for lunch, and then get lucky. Dishes, cookware, silverware, sheets, blanket, toaster oven, even a tv. I know, I missed some items... but let me tell you, my little car was full.

Next another stop to get calamine lotion, cause he has a case of poison ivy.

Poor guy... but still very upbeat.

I know so much about him, his child hood, his marriage... and his Army time in Korea. Haskell is 79 years old.

Then, getting close to Luther again, we are stopped, the roads in to Luther are closed. OG&E have to many lines down, and are working on getting the town safe. Rats! Now what???? I end up driving Haskell to his landlord, and we unload. Ray promises to drive him and his stuff over later.

Pheew, what an experience....

Oh, on the way home, I find a road closed, (63rd near I 35) lots of smoke, emergency vehicles across all four lanes... and I have to detour.