La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

The theme this week: “Paradise Lost.” The waves consuming parts of California have the character of fire. They are still out of control and totally destructive.

Did Joni Mitchell’s song come to mind: “Don’t it always seem to go / That you don’t know what you’ve got / Till it’s gone / They paved paradise / And put up a parking lot”?

Paradise, California has been leveled. People of every belief and value have been equally affected. Dozens are dead.

After such a fire, one can see for miles and miles. There is certainly clarity. There is also utter devastation.

A wildfire is f...