It is almost a year since the June fires in Knysna – and it would be just plain wishful, or ostrich neck in the sand, thinking to pretend that life has resumed as it was.
Alien vegetation is spreading faster than it can be contained, not all residents who lost their worldly belongings have come right and money that was sent to Knysna is still floating around somewhere – tangible and logical answers of what came in and what it has been spent on is still a mystery.
Hats off to the chairperson of Knysna Tourism, Elmay Bouwer, for her attitude and to those who have also soldiered on with hope.
Elmay lost a big part of her accommodation establishment, but said only days after the fire that "Knysna was open for business as usual". Since then she has set a tone of encouragement for this town and in doing so has sacrificed huge amounts of her time and energy – always with a smile.
Many truly admirable souls
People like Elmay, Jill Morse of Knysna Disaster Fund, Rotarians, and many other truly admirable souls simply rolled their sleeves up and got on with helping fire victims since then.
There are many unsung heroes like this.
But just like the insidious alien plants that now underpin much of our vegetation, I believe so does deep psychological damage underpin a huge part of our community.
Last Thursday, 26 April, when dry berg winds blew hot and ferociously, first I noticed our journalists were very twitchy. The heat, watching the palm trees from our offices bending and shedding branches, was enough to make us all anxious.
Then I bumped into at least five people that day, some of whom lost their homes and some not, who said the wind that day actually made them feel nauseous.
Two other recent conversations have struck me.
Delayed depression strikes
An acquaintance who lost his house and memories in the fire, moved into his brand new house and depression swirled and engulfed him like a dark cloud.
Another friend moved into her totally rebuilt dream home, and after a day or two of euphoria she fell into a dark and deep pit of depression and sadness.
The probable reason for this, says the one friend, is that he has spent the last year in flight or fight mode, just to keep going.
When these two people moved into new homes they were safe, they were haunted by what was gone looking at empty rooms to fill again without family photos and comfort items. During the last year these people have been so busy with insurance claims and trying to rebuild their lives that there was no time to delve into their hearts or work through emotional issues.
I believe these are just two examples of many people in different places of psychological unwellness. What has happened to all the people who have not been able to re-build, those who have left Knysna as a result?
What to do now?
So now the question is, one year later, what to do?
We keep hammering the powers-that-be to answer questions about money and other outstanding fire issues, but a year later the results are deeply disappointing.
We could do an anniversary issue, but will residents who have stories of victory to tell us, come forward?
The voices of those who are still battling must also be heard.
Where to start I don't know and when I think about it, angst crawls in my belly like a thousand giant insects.
How about writing to me at elaine@groupeditors.co.za?
Tell me your story, tell me if Knysna needs to do a commemorative issue one year later. We are a local newspaper to serve our readers.
What do you want?
