Do you know what today is?

Today is the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. One year ago, I remember letting the dogs in, pulling out the hurricane box and filling all containers in the house with water. We heard it was going to be bad- but the only people who really freaked were the ones that freaked for every hurricane. Two years ago we were supposed to be hit with 2- we got off of school and everything... wanna what happpened? Hurricane parties on the parade ground!

At the end of it, we were very lucky as was my whole city. Not so for N.O. (understatement of the year) the only damage was a bit to the roof, a fence at my moms, and all of the big oak trees were uprooted (enter lumber girl- nugget and I cleared them in 2 days with one chainsaw- dragged to the street and everything). There was no one else to do it, understandably. Madigan worked for the Governor's office- see whiny crying stupidest woman alive- and we all weathered the worst of the actual storm under the covers... You don't waste your batteries when you can listen the radio or tv at your neighbors house.

When it was over, we went outside to talk to the neighbors, we had no electricity for about a week, no phone, cell phones were blocked. If our water pumps (which run off of electricity) are run off of generator for 3 days they will shut down- which means no clean water for a few miles radius. See Hurricane Andrew... no clean water for a couple of weeks- that was scary. lots of food off of a grill, i was like 11 that was great. My mommiey is an orthopedic nurse. She basically lived at the hospital with me going back and forth and running errands like bringing food for her and checking on people.Then we heard about new orleans. school was closed, work was shut down. LSU opened the field house as a triage unit to take the overflow of medical patients and our stadium was a refuge for as many evacuees as could be bussed in before they began using the River Center. My friends and I spent our spare time volunteering to help pass out food, sort close, and entertain kids. We sorted through donations and put together toiletry kits, and tried to match people's medicines. Mommiey got off of work and came to triage with me because they needed medical personell.

The part that literally knocked the wind out of me was the old people. 1. It was quiet at night, but you don't realize how small you are until you see a track field full of cots with so many older people asleep- holding teddy bears and talking to them like real people as a way to deal with being all alone and not being able to find your family. They were like large children that didn't make sense. 2. the second was those same beds during the day. they were always tidy. with everything belonging to each person folded so small and put together to take up the smallest amount of space. Nothing hidden, because there was no where to hide it and each person trusted that the person next to him just wouldn't take his soap.

People talk about "those people" and what happened at the Superdome. I don't doubt it and I don't knock it. But that wasn't what came through my city. And today more than anything I and everyone I know folds their hands in Namaste and says a silent prayer for those people- and their loss.

It's too much today. We'll start on my beef with Newsweek tomorrow.