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I dont think that we realize the extent of the devastation that has occurred in LA, MS & AL. Really. I know that it's on every new channel 24/7, I know TV shows talk about it, I know it's been on the radio... Hell even Aaron Neville has written a song about it (Made me cry)... but I honestly, truly do not think we have A-N-Y idea of how terrible it is.

Close your eyes and just imagine...Ok never mind.. you cant read with your eyes closed.. You complained about having to clean the house today, hubby won't help, kids making a mess, being loud and rambuctious, animals want fed and are under foot. You go to the grocery store and complain b/c of the cost of gas is sky freakin' high. You buy groceries and damn... the cost of everything is going out the roof. Yes.. we all do this every week (some (me) every day). Now... Imagine waking up the next day to everything you had... money, job, house, pets, car, groceries, (kids or husband possibly) are GONE.

Not just gone, but G-O-N-E.

Look around you now.... See everything? Hear the kids? See the stack of bills? Yeah.. G O N E. A lot of those folks lost more than their personal belongings. They lost their loved ones. Or may still lose them. Or don't know where they are.

I'm not saying we can't complain about our current situation b/c that hasn't changed. I'm just saying that we have NO idea of where our life is going tomorrow and if this isn't proof enough that we aren't even guaranteed a tomorrow...
What is?

Larry & I have discussed how this whole situation was (so poorly) handled. I say that the Government should have stepped in sooner and Larry said that they couldn't b/c that's not how the Government is run. The State has to ASK for assistance before the Government can step in. And if the President went in and took over it would send a bad message that the "Democratic" Mayor and Governor (who's making Women around the World look bad) couldn't handle things. Well.. They couldn't. And they didn't. And as Condoleeza Rice said today.. it's not about race. No Condoleeza.. You're right. It's about Fucking Politics. Who cares if it's Democrats or Republicans? Help should have come even if it wasn't wanted.
And the President had declared it a Disaster Area 2 days.. 2 full days.. before Hurricane Katrina even hit. 2 days people. WTF? And for it to take 5 days for the President .. who represents the US... to even make an appearance anywhere NEAR the devastation.. and God forbid but his vacation short.. is appauling, and uncaring. And I'm a Republican .. for the most part.
Some of the folks on a forum he reads say that they don't understand how some of those people stayed. Well.. what if your only family lived in the same Section 8 (welfare for those who don't know) housing that you do? And you don't have many friends because you don't work and your school friends all moved away, or just don't want to be around anyone who's on Welfare, and you don't have a car or any money b/c it's not the first of the month yet and you have enough cash for milk for the baby. Do you leave? How? Where would you go? Why? You have no money, transportation or place to go.
Yeah.. exactly.


We also talked about whether or not to go help these people (Bellevue Church is sending people down for a week at a time per his Sister who attends).
Well.. I can't go. My immune system is just not strong enough to be around all of that stuff (it's not even strong enough to fend off the flu thanks in part to my diabetes). And Larry's job would never let him get off work.. and we can't afford him not to work. So.. what to do? Well.. everyone who reads this... Check out the link at the top... Go make a donation. Anything... Forget the Starbucks for one day and make a $10 donation. That's water for 10 people who were stranded on their roof for 4 days....

Also.. anyone who works with me, or lives near me... If you want to bring any basic necessities... toothbrush & paste, towels, water, etc. we are going to ensure it gets to the ARC.