Ashes.

Flames. Destruction. Loss. Sadness.

I'm watching California burn.

But as the disaster unfolds, I'm finding it harder to keep watching the news coverage. What can I possibly say about the devastation from clear across the country?

That's what I'm thinking when an e-mail pops up, bringing news of another long-term lesbian couple gone kapput. Though I lost touch with them some time back, the news still causes me to gasp.

They REALLY thought it would never happen to them.

I've heard both say proudly that they'd proved all the nay-sayers wrong. They were going to outlast all of us who questioned why one or both would ever stay in such an obviously whacked-out relationship. Some of us, myself included, said this as our own long-term relationship(s) imploded/exploded/fizzled.

We watched their destructive moments, occasionally added fuel to the flames, enjoyed their hospitality, marveled at the ever-expanding collection of pets, and chalked the fact that it seemed to work up to some weird twist of fate or really freaky chemistry.

By my count they outlasted all but two of the six or so couples who were once some part of that circle. Yeah, I know what the stats say.

But I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Not naive. Just hopeful. Movie magic.

California's burning. And I'm not watching CNN any more today.