Welcome back to The Townies Podcast, a storytelling podcast featuring the incredible joys and woes of your friends and neighbors.I was in class on Monday, December 4th when we all got news of a small brush fire near Saint Thomas Aquinas College, only 11 miles from our class and my studio. There was no way to know what the combination of thirsty chaparral climate, Santa Ana winds, dry, drought-ridden topsoil and devastating rains would bring.The pieces in this episode were all written amidst the chaos and destruction of all things Thomas.In sharing these stories we hope that you will find connection and understanding where you may have felt alone.And to our fellow Townies in Houston, Puerto Rico, Santa María and elsewhere still struggling in the aftermath of severe natural disasters -- we stand with you in grief, loss and solidarity. This Episode Features (in order of appearance):Invocation written & performed by Jemi Reis McDonaldFear written & performed by Jeanette StampfliMusical Interlude: Ambulance Song written & performed by Rain PerryInto The Broken Heart written & performed by Karin DronBenediction written & performed by Jemi Reis McDonaldAdditional music by Green ManA hometown kind-of-storytelling podcast featuring the original stories of the Ventura County residents who have been in Kim Maxwell's writing & performance class over the last 25 years.Some of her students are professionals, some have never been on a stage before. All stories were written, performed and recorded at Kim Maxwell Studio in Ojai, CA.Created by Kim MaxwellCo-Produced by Lily Brown, Ken Eros & Asa LearmonthStudio Engineering & Mixing by Eros Creative & SoundTheme Song Written & Performed by Rain PerryRecorded & Mixed by Martin YoungMastered by Mark Hallman at The Congress House