brunch

my friend danielle and i (partners in crime for Casa's for CASA) went to brunch this morning. Danielle, to put it mildly has had a bad week. Her mothers house was completely wiped away during Hurricane Katrina. Her fathers houses (he owns multiple rental properties) are all ruined. Her grandmother was displaced from her apartment. So, at our Mimosa laden brunch, our conversation turned to the events of the past week. I can't even begin to put the words together to describe, or even relate the tales that she was telling me. Her step father was stuck in the nursing home that he works at, and couldnt get out for the longest time. Her father, a real live Airforce Hurricane Chaser was holding onto a tree for three hours. It's simply unreal, but sadly its very real, its very much in my backyard, and in the families of friends. I have had this bitter taste in my mouth for days. I can't describe it. Its like this sense of wanting to do something, but unable to figure out what the hell I can do. We talked about what we can do for her family- they are all at realitives right now, but essentiall have nothing. Do we go to Target and start buying supplies? Should Danielle get in her car and go home. Sadly, the latter is not an option right now, because frankly there isnt a lot of gas to be had on the way to her moms. Her phone rang multiple times during our time together this morning- family members checking in,friends of the family looking for her mom and dad, etc. The last call was the worst. It was a friend of her dad's looking for her daddy. For some reason, this guy had one of her dad's trucks. He was telling his tale to Danielle, and finished with this statement "John and Alva didnt make it"- at first, we didnt understand. And then it sunk in. John and Alva didn't survive. Clearly neither of us knew John or Alva, but they, and their families are in our prayers.

So there you have it- it just keeps getting worse and worse.

I have another thought- why is it, in times of global trouble, America is always there reaching out with a helping hand. Lending our time, our money and our people to give relief. When is someone going to come and help us?

The people in Gulfport, Biloxi, and other coastal communities are waiting.