Some decades ago I read the Civil War diary of a soldier named Elisha Hunt Rhodes. Sitting in a camp on New Year’s Eve, he paused for a moment to look back on 1862, the year just passing.
Over the previous 12 months he had witnessed seven days of fighting on the Virginia peninsula near Richmond, a second go round at Bull Run and the bloodiest single day in American history, otherwise known as the Battle of Antietam — by any standard a lot to reflect upon.
On that evening, presumably by the light of a campfire, he scribbled words of awe and hope, loss and longing.
“Well, the year 1862 is drawing to a close. As I look back I am bewildered when I think of the hundreds of miles I have tramped, the thousands of dead and wounded that I have seen, and the many strange sights that I have witnessed,” Rhodes wrote. “I can truly thank God for his preserving care over me and the many blessings I have received. The year has not amounted to much as far as the War is concerned, but we hope for the best and feel sure that in the end the Union will be restored. Good bye, 1862.”
For me, the passage sounded a poignant tone. It expressed things missed, little understood and horrible to consider. It also rode on a solid foundation — faith in a better future and relief that some good had been discovered and preserved.
The author may have tapped out something similar had he lived through 2015 in Lake County. It was, as we all know, a year of terrible times that somehow exposed a marvelous core.
We naturally regret and lament the four who lost their lives in the Valley Fire, as well as the homes, memories and pets lost in a summer of flames. We will miss the wild yet stately beauty of the forests on Cobb, at least until they return in another lifetime. We remember vividly the fearful sights, even when viewed from a safe distance.
But oh what we learned about Lake County in 2015.
For me, the images I will carry forward from the year convey the spirit of this county and its residents. People urged on firefighters at every turn. Lake Countians paid for meals, shook their hands, cheered them in passing, thanked them profusely, posted colorful signs — the actions were sincere and uplifting. Experiencing this display of support brightened the long months of late summer.
What about the Moose Lodge, the churches, the volunteers and the flood of goods and money that followed the advancing flames of the Valley Fire? The dedicated veterinarians who gathered at the Middletown Animal Hospital? Maybe the moment excited firefighters arrived at the location with three koi they saved from an abandoned water feature, thrilled that the hospital would keep the fish safe? The crew at Village Pub on Cobb serving meals and camaraderie in the days after the roads were opened? Middletown cross country runners gathering at a meet not long after the Valley Fire, only to find athletes from neighboring schools sporting Mustangs colors?
Many have started to rebuild. Others will in the future. Businesses shuttered for weeks have reopened. People continue to offer help and to stop in Cobb or Middletown and spend a little support. Smiles are returning.
There’s so much more, but all of the memories tell of a resilient and caring people. As county supervisor Rob Brown shouted to a crowd only a day after the Valley Fire erupted, we are strong and we will rebuild.
So goodbye, 2015. You gave us a reason to hold our heads high and look ahead with great faith and spirit.
