Sunday, July 13, 2008

I am stuck this morning in the middle of a thunderstorm where I stayed overnight at Holiday Inn Express in Valley, Alabama.  Waiting for the storm to pass by, saw an article "Sign of Katrina fatigue? Storm memorial delayed" (http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jul13/0,4670,KatrinaMemorial,00.html ).  Some items in the article were said to me in person.  I am on my way to Greenville, South Carolina to see my daughter.

Met a deaf gal who lost her home and 3 dogs, returned to New Orleans, now living in an apartment.  Met a deaf guy who left to live with his daughter, now living in California.  Met a hearing gal who went through the middle of Katrina and is now an alcoholic as she lost jobs and friends.  I learned she works as a stripper as her previous job was never returned.

New Orleans was 80 percent flooded.  People tell me New Orleans had 1/2 million people before Katrina and is now only of about 300,000 people.  Some disagree with the figure and says it is less.

Driving on I-10 into and from New Orleans, you can see homes still damaged from the storm and is still no one living in there.  Biggest problem is insurance.  Some still waiting for it.

While the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is over, it is time to move on.  Have a little story to tell you which was the wildest thing ever happened to me.  Was walking on Bourbon Street, the heart of the biggest parties in New Orleans.  Saw two gals that looks familiar.  They turned and I turned to start asking questions.  It turned out both works for the same place I work but on a different floor.  What were they doing in New Orleans while I was there?  They were there for the jazzercize event.  This to me was wild as I usually say "I do not have a private life."  LOL.

Anyway, I wanted to send this out to people I know and share what I went through.  Yes, it was heart breaking to hear stories and the article will tell you more.  I am sure those who experienced NYC 9/11 was similar.  I am also sure those with California fires have the same stories.  No matter where you are, remember, you have something valuable, you have a life, nothing is as bad as to the lives of those people who lost things.  Be thankful where you are as I am.  As I am thankful for heading to Greenville, SC to see my daughter, Kristina.  I will be there for 4 days before heading for home, Bordentown (city), New Jersey.

May god bless you all.

         Phil 

ps:  still raining here.

phil.moos@comcast.net