WOOHOO!!!!! I just received my copy today!!!! I CAN'T WAIT to read it!!!!!
I read the first few pages and got goosebumps about 5 times!!! It's sure to be a page-turner!!!!
Congrats to you Bryan!! Thank you for sharing your story with the world!! It needed to be told.
Hugs
Marla
You have a PM from me!
i just returned from a visit to see my mother and then our home in the new orleans area.
we first stayed in dallas with cruzan heart and big tex.
while there we hooked up with bubbamar and her girlfriend dee.
Hey Bryan
So glad you made it in and out okay. Did you have renters insurance to help with your losses?
Marla
katrina was a catagory 4 hurricane and andrew was a catagory 5 hurricane.
why are there more dead people and damage with katrina then andrew?
is it because of flood?.
Why do people continue to buy lottery tickets knowing they have a better chance of getting struck by lightning?
Why do people smoke cigarettes when there is no cure for lung cancer?
You are right about denial. I think we would all just shoot ourselves if we were constantly aware of all potentials dangers at all times. No one would drive a car or fly in plane or eat red meat, drink cokes, etc, etc.
I can tell you that now that I don't have the luxery of denial in this one area - I won't live in California, New Orleans or anywhere else that is just waiting for a natural disaster.
hello friends.
i just wanted to post a little update on our situation.
so many of you have been so helpful, generous, kind, supportive and caring -- it is truly mindblowing and has been the bright spot in this nightmare.
Thanks Dede
I love New Orleans and you are right it will never be the same. Even if they make it look the same - It will never feel the same to me now that I know how dangerous it is to live below sea level, how our high rate of crime played out in the face of devastation and how disrespected we were by the government. I'm sure I will go back when I can handle it emotionally - but it will be hard to be face to face with all that I lost.
Sparkplug - do you mean the info about the clinic in Plano - I did get that. Oh - also about the Vet. Billygoat/Andi arranged for my 14 year old pug to get a bag of his Rx dog food ($30 value!!). Woohoo!!!
So much love....
katrina was a catagory 4 hurricane and andrew was a catagory 5 hurricane.
why are there more dead people and damage with katrina then andrew?
is it because of flood?.
When the storm came up the Mississippi River it pushed the water up the river into the Lake. Then the lake overflowed into the city which is below sea level. The water rose pretty quickly - so a lot of people went into their attic to escape the water. The people who didn't bring an axe drowned in their attic. Growing up, I always heard that it "could" happen - but I guess I didn't expect it to really happen. What a horrible way to go. Also, a lot of people died in the aftermath because help was so slow in coming. It is SO HOT down there - easy to dehydrate quickly. Some people were already sick, disabled, lost medications, etc. A lot of people also died of criminal violence. So a lot of factors contributed to the death toll.
Hope that helps.
Marla of the "glad to be alive" class
hello friends.
i just wanted to post a little update on our situation.
so many of you have been so helpful, generous, kind, supportive and caring -- it is truly mindblowing and has been the bright spot in this nightmare.
Hello Friends
I just wanted to post a little update on our situation. So many of you have been SO helpful, generous, kind, supportive and caring -- it is truly mindblowing and has been THE bright spot in this nightmare. Honestly, I have received more help from "strangers" (friends I hadn't met yet) here in Dallas than I have from friends and blood family. I can not tell you what the PM's, donations, phone calls, dinners, etc have done to help me hold on to my sanity.
Dee and I visited the University in Denton yesterday and they do have a great program (we are both in Grad school --I'm a masters student and Dee is a Phd student). We are also looking into the Univ in Atlanta and have a friend there who is recent UNO graduate who is helping us with information and advocacy. We are leaning towards Atlanta but it keeps changing for me. I think Dee is ready to go - but I am struggling. I think that when I make a decision it also means accepting the reality that we are NOT going back to New Orleans because there is NOTHING there.
There is just so much to let go of. You know, when you move to a new place, you can usually go "home" and visit all your old friends, favorite restaurants, and enjoy the familiarity of home. I have been there so long that the roots run deep and it so painful to have that all severed so quickly. I am trying to stay focused on the positive - I really have SO MUCH to be grateful for. My life, for one.
I got an email from my JW mom telling me that I could come live with her. For her to say that is unbelievable -- she shuns me completely and is very mentally sick in addition to being a JW. The interesting thing is that by the time her offer came - 8-9 days after the flood - I had already received several offers from other family and friends. I told her to tell her elders thank you for allowing her to extend the offer - and she said that she didn't have to ask the elders - that in "dire need they can jump in." I just wouldn't call that "jumping in." Andi (Billygoat) JUMPED IN!!! WOOHOO ANDI!!!!!!!! YOU REALLY ARE F'ING AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again for being here for me! Ya'll rock!!!!
Marla
some of you may have read my comments on this thread:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/97756/1677835/post.ashx#1677835.
i just spoke with the mother of the little 2 year old mentioned in that post.
Andi -- YOU ARE AN ANGEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
our opinions: an open letter to the president dear mr. president:.
we heard you loud and clear friday when you visited our devastated city and the gulf coast and said, "what is not working, were going to make it right.".
please forgive us if we wait to see proof of your promise before believing you.
WOW!! Thanks for posting that! I hadn't read it yet. It is very well written and brings up some great questions. The sad thing is that the majority of americans will fall for the lies and will be over all of this a very short period of time. Those of us affected will be left with out grief and knowledge of what really happened.
Michael Moore also wrote a fantastic letter to the F--- Wad President. I'm sure it's up on his website for any who are interested.
(If you hate Michael Moore - just pretend you didn't read that)
Marla
i mentioned this in another thread, (http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/14/97652/1.ashx) but i'm going to start a new one too!.
you guys and gals are the most generous, kind, and unconditional people i've ever met!!!
i am so proud to be part of this community.
Andi you are really a angel. We went through the new bags of goodies and are still amazed at the generosity. I am so glad you stayed for coffee - it is so nice to have some time to talk about something else and to not think about it for a while. It seems to come in waves - the reality of what has happened. We were pretty sure about our idea to go to Atlanta - but then I just wanted to go home SO BAD and crawl in my own bed. It can be overwhelming to think about it all being gone. The support network I had there, favorite coffee shops and restaurants, my therapist, UNO...the list is endless.
The monetary help has meant so much - but I think that experiencing the love and support of friends and strangers has been just as --if not more meaningful. ANDI thank you so much for adopting us and for rounding up so much help!!!! YOU ARE SO AWESOME!!!!!!!
Andi Please tell the Rodgers THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the yummy scented lotion and the gift cards. They have no idea how much it means! Also the makeup and other samples are awesome!!
We finally finished sorting through the clothes and, amazingly, everyone here found clothes that fit - and that we love! (LOVE the Ann Taylor stuff!! Ya'll have great taste in clothes) We have a bag left over that we will make sure some refugees get. Thank you everyone!!!!!!
As far as chocolate....hmmm...did one of my "friends" eat my chocolate???? Haha Valis - How'd you know that's what female refugees REALLY need!!! LOL
Hugs to all
Marla
