I live and work in Simi Valley.

I live and work in Simi Valley. The name is not a marketing gimmick created by means of a clever developer to create the illusion of security or seclusion. Our community is encircleed on all sides by mountains and as you might imagine, the fact that it is limits access the pair in and out of the valley.

Simi is a great place to live and work. In fact, it is consistently distinguished as single in kind of the safest cities in the nation. It's almost as if the mountains and hills really can screen us from the insanity that keep out of the ways just a few miles away upon the other side of the hill. A month or for a like reason ago we made the national of recent origins again, only this time it was for the damage caused by way of one of the five fires that ravaged Southern California. It present the appearances the same mountains that shield us, can just as easily isolate us from just about everything we need

That's exactly what happened when "The Simi Valley Fire" scorched throughout 100,000 acres as it mov east toward Chatsworth and the San Fernando Valley forcing firefighters to shut the main access routes in and on the outside of the valley from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday evening.

I live here, in such a manner getting to work despite the freeway closure wasn't plenteous of a problem, although not being able to papal court or breathe through the ash and the embers more than made up for it. The employee that live here didn't have earnestly of a problem either. The fire didn't quick in emergencies much of an obstacle for my 82-year-old parents; they just herd an hour-and-a-half around the fire and inscribeed the valley through the "back door." brace of my other employees came to work the same way, as did a young lady who ran the gauntlet in order to apply for a job

I was surprised by dint of the determination, dedication and commitment of everyone who managed to finish here Monday morning: suppliers and employee alike. Unfortunately, however, I was equally as disappointed in about of the suppliers I've supported for years who couldn't or wouldn't.

It was fascinating to view who came and who didn't: who made the effort and who wouldn't. The suppliers I did the mostly business with and who were the closest couldn't strike one as being to find their way here; while a certain number of of my fourth, fifth and plane sixth calls showed up sum of two units three and even four times a day despite the freeway closure one as well as the other Monday and Tuesday.

Realistically, I can't say I blame anyone for choosing not to reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] point It was difficult and could have become dangerous. however I have to tell you, I was impressed with the companies who did. What they did speaks to the heart of what world-class service is suppos to be all about: quietly doing with grace that which others are unable or unwilling to do at all.

In many ways, this was a real trial by fire, and while I can't and won't ... punish those suppliers who didn't pass [i]or[/i] part of to the other it--I do feel compelled to reward the individuals who did.

Mitch Schneider is co-owner of Schneider's Auto Repair, Inc., Simi Valley, Calif., and is an ASE Master Technician.

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