REMEMBERING KATRINA

Dahlin Dears,

Thank you so very much for your responses to my request for handholding for peace. I can't tell you how much it means to read your individual responses to my Full Moon Posts and other posts. I relish reading them, and feel close to the community we are a part of.

Tonight I have come to ask for other prayers. It is the eve of the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina devastating the Queen City of my homeland. All of my friends have left. The only dear one who stayed is my cousin, JoAnn, who owns one of the most wonderful restaurants in New Orleans--The Upperline. She evacuated to my hometown, but returned soon, in October of last year. She is one of my heroines.

But the city is hurting, and hurting bad. And, as they say down there, it ain't pretty.

We cannot let this drop from our consciousness. Almost 1500 people died when the levees broke. The footprint of the disaster is far larger than that of 9/11. Not in any way to lessen the effect of 9/11, but it is my opinion that the Bush administration is so busy waging wars that it has not taken care of suffering Americans in my homeland. Thousands of houses are uninhabitable, schools have been closeD, only half of the hospital care of available. The middle class is fleeing. The city is out of control. Children languish, confused, traumatized, and squeezed into trailers that are neither adequate nor safe.

We must keep reading and keeping up with the situation in New Orleans, and keep our government accountable for helping those in need. My heart is still broken when I learn about the lack of recovery of the city, and the loss of the citizens who lived there.

Still, I encourage everyone to visit Louisiana, and New Orleans. Don't be afraid. Choose where you go according to what you want to experience, but remember that there is no place like Louisiana. It is a country within a country, with the friendliest people in I have ever met. The culture is unique, and must be preserved. The music, the food, the black influence, the soul of that city must be tended to.

As a young girl, my mother used to bring my little sister and me on the Dixie Flyer train to New Orleans to buy our Christmas and Easter dresses. We marveled at the city, the river, the exotic feeling of it all. I still cannot comprehend the horror of it all.

Who will take my hand, once again, to pray for the victims of both Hurricane Katrina and Rita? Who will help remember that one year later, in this rich country, there are bodies still stacked in warehouses, unidentified people who have loved ones still waiting to find them to mourn them? Please, take my hand, join me in remembering, and join me in speaking out for those who are so tired, living in despair. Who will take my cold hands and help warm them with your prayers?

Thank you all so very much.

84,000 Blessings,

Rebecca

Copyright © by Rebecca Wells