Thankful

My friend Michelle, who I mentioned in this post is safe!!! She and her family still in New Orleans have finally connected with one another by telephone and everyone is accounted for. Her aunt and uncle are unharmed, but are still in one of the hurricane ravaged areas without power, water, or much food. Relatives are attempting to get a generator and some much needed supplies to them, but it may not work since the bridge they need to cross is damaged. At this point they're just thanking GOD everyone is safe. But that isn't to say they're not without loss.

Michelle's aunt and uncle own two apartment buildings in downtown NO that are in the midst of the flooding. Her cousin left his apartment to take cover in Texas, and he is now facing the fact even if his apartment survived the flood (which is highly unlikely because its in a flooded area) his belongings have probably been looted. Michelle's belongings that are in a storage facility in downtown have most likely been destroyed or looted. There is just no way to know for sure until they can return to the area. Michelle's job is also up in the air. She hasn't been able to get in touch with anyone at the law firm where she works. She's only been there for a week and isn't familiar with their emergency plan, nor does she know anyone other than the two attorneys she supports. Her office building is downtown near the Superdome, which we all know isn't safe any longer, so she can only assume their building is flooded.

The up side of all of this (if there is one) is that Michelle and her two pooches, Kai and Bear, are coming to stay at our house for a bit. I am so glad that we have a place for her and her stressed out pups to rest comfortably, even if only for the weekend. I get the feeling the magnitude of the situation is finally starting to sink in and Michelle is in shock - like so many others who have lost so much. Since she was forced to evacuate last weekend she has been either driving or staying in hotel rooms. Most of the information she's been recieving is from the television or internet. There has been very little communication from her relatives still in the city.

So, tonight I'm going home to fix up my guest room for our guests who will arrive tomorrow. It isn't much, but at least they'll be safe. Clean sheets on the bed, a few good books, a reading lamp, and a vase of happy daisies on the night stand; plenty of Coke for Mish; and maybe a few treats for her kids.

Over the course of the next few months I hope our nation will continue to work together on restoring the loss so many have suffered. Nothing can ever replace the special "Stuff", but we can help with the things that matter most - food, water, clothes, funds, and kindness.

Thanks to those of you who have posted comments and are keeping my loved ones in your thoughts and prayers!

Ciao!