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Title: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Edna on Sep 6th, 2005, 9:39am I stop to realize how lucky I am in the aftermath of this horrendous storm that just hit our area. I cringe to turn on the tv to see yet more depressing news. For days that's all we saw. Things are headed back to normal here. Our community wasn't damaged badly at all. Lots of homes have roof damage, fallen trees and the like. Further down, at Port Fourchon and Grand Isle things are pretty messed up and will take lots of work to clean up. Spending days with no electricity wasn't so bad, we did have generator power. Phones and cell phones are still not in total working order here. Cable is somewhat working. And still our local news station braodcast complete coverage daily. A trip to the grocery store yesterday was depressing. You see all these NEW faces, it's a mad house. I stop to think how many of these are now homeless, and desparate for what little human touches in their lives they can get right now. You stand and find out who's from where, if they're with family, if they need anything!! That's once you discuss where the hell we do go next to find the basic necessities that we couldn't find at the store we're at. Gas....that's a whole other trip. Wait in lines at the stations that are open hoping to get some before the tanks empty. Thank goodness all of our vehicles here are still pretty much loaded. We haven't traveled anywhere much other than to local neighbors to give help with cleanup or supplies. Got to preserve the gas in the tanks. On Wednesday, all three of my kids go back to college classes.......THANK GOD. Their had been talk that perhaps the university would have to suspend the semester. AND GEEZ, had that happened, I was coming here to my extended family for help with housing for them to attend elsewhere. SOOOoooooooooo.........I'm STEAMED to know that a few friends of mine and I are trying to be of service at the shelters and are literally being placed on lists. After phone calls, they say they'll get back in touch with us. No return calls. HELL, my husband swears that has become the American way............"I'll call you back"....and you never hear from them again. We want to help out with anything, NOT sitting behind a desk making phone calls and the like............JUST being there with human spirit to help lift these people that must be so down. SO, we've decided we're just showing up. Today she did find out one shelter needs help to box clothes to be shipped to a different shelter. So we're off. Guess in the coming days we'll have to stick our necks out more to INSIST on using us and our physical abilities to do good. WHEW.........I feel so much better now. Thank you all............I count on this place for so many reasons and now have yet another to be thankful for. DJ, I love you more than you'll EVER know, and you're one hell of a man with me for giving me this place. love to all, EDNA |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by don on Sep 6th, 2005, 9:53am EDNA! Here I was thinking you were being held hostage by a psychotic preacher man in the bible belt. Quote:
ATTA GIRL! |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by minnie on Sep 6th, 2005, 10:04am Edna we are all just so thankful that you and your family are ok.WE were going crazy for days worrying about you.We also had to worry about our dear devoted Jean who was gonna find you no matter what. Glad your kids can go back to school that will help a little to start to get things back to normal.well as normal as can be under these circumstances.Just know that the whole country for that matter the whole world are keeping you all in there prayers.My sister should be leaving next week for Texas with a friend.Their going down with the red cross. Vent away Edna you can E-Mail me or Im I can even try to make it to chat if you need me.Stay strong.... LOve Minnie |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by sandie99 on Sep 6th, 2005, 10:25am Vent away, Edna! I'm so glad you're ok. :) Best wishes, Sanna |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Frank_W on Sep 6th, 2005, 2:04pm Edna.... [smiley=hug.gif] So glad you're okay, my friend... |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Woobie on Sep 6th, 2005, 2:38pm EDNA!!!!!!!!!! http://www.cardhost.net/cardi/hugs.gif |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Svenn on Sep 6th, 2005, 3:34pm Vent away, Edna! I'm so glad you're ok. You know we are here for you Svenn |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by ghost62 on Sep 6th, 2005, 3:38pm Thanks for chkn in GLAD YOU AND FAMILY ARE OK!!!!!! Sending prayers you get to get back to some what normal as soon as poss..... :'( |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Lizzie2 on Sep 6th, 2005, 7:55pm Very very glad you are okay, Edna!! You've got a huge heart to be working so hard to help out. I'm sure you've already done a lot of people some good just by being who you are! Keep on hanging in there and please let me know if there's anything I can do to help! Love and hugs, [smiley=hug.gif] Lizzie2/Carrie :) |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Sean_C on Sep 6th, 2005, 8:01pm [smiley=hug.gif] |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Ree on Sep 6th, 2005, 8:11pm Vent away Edna I cannot imagine what youre going through.... God bless Love ree |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by BarbaraD on Sep 6th, 2005, 8:17pm Vent away Edna. You've got the right and we're here for you.. we've got 100 families moving in here (old college campus right outside of town) and we're getting stuff together now for them. I'm moving, so I'm "downsizing" and have a room full of stuff to move out right now. Just need some big stong guys to move it. Yeah and I'm holding my breath till they show up. Soon as I get another can of WD-40, I'll get them in the truck and to the shelter. ::) Hang in there. Hugs BD |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by rumplestiltskin on Sep 6th, 2005, 8:58pm a thought I'm working on smiles. I'm goin in and readin books to the lil ones...as Captain Trips. He's a crazy Pirate character of mine. I'm workin on inventing entertainment for them. ..getting any and all art related ventures to pony up with free tickets etc... G and I just invented the Small Comforts project. We are gathering up white pillow cases and fabric paints and later other items that can be fabric painted by the kids and families. Gives them somthing to do. They get a personalized pillow case for that cot or bed in an impersonal sea of beds. Use yer imagination to see all the good it can do. Feel free to steal the idea. If ya need to list a non profit 501c3 for donations...you can use mine. wage peace den |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Ree on Sep 6th, 2005, 9:01pm VERY SWEET DEN AND G.... LOVE REE |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Charlie on Sep 6th, 2005, 10:38pm You're pretty cool Edna http://www.kolobok.wrg.ru/smiles/standart/friends.gif?SSImageQuality=Full Charlie |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Edna on Sep 7th, 2005, 12:33am Den, that's a great idea!!!! Well, they certainly let us into the shelter today!! ....LOL We're going back tomorrow. This shelter has less than 100 ppl there now. It's a Lion's Club Center that housed police officers and their families from somewhere in the New Orleans area. Two friends of mine, myself, my daughter and my son's girlfriend set out this morning. First task they needed help with was manning an outside shower for the survivors there. So the two young gals decided that was a task for them. The shower was set up outside, under some nice shady trees (it is hot as ever here in LA) Somehow, though, it has been breezy days since the storm. Rather odd for this time of year here. Anyway, the shower is a make shift deal that gets it's supply of cold water only from the fire hydrant. It's equipped for about 5 or so people at one time, but the center keeps it manned by volunteers to help pick up their dirty clothes and make sure it doesn't become a unisex bath.....lol. The girls enjoyed talking with the people that did come out to shower during the morning time and shared stories of their survival. Meanwhile, inside, there are MOUNDS of donated clothes, bedding, shoes and toys to be sorted. That's what we did for the next few hours. The most beautiful children played and watched movies while we worked. Some people slept. Some just mingled amongst each other outside. And, of course, we did as was asked of us, but also took time to talk and share time with the people there. Lunch time came and home cooked food was brought in, I'm not sure from where. At one point a few men came to us to ask for help in finding them clothes, shoes and even socks. So we began to look and were lucky with some things. We couldn't find the size shoe one needed, so you know what we wanted to run off and shop for huh??? Then we found out that another center in town that was housing nearly 1000 survivors had things more organized, by sizes and the like. So we proceeded to make a wish list to see to it that they would get the items they needed. We came upon about 5 pair of new socks in the piles of things. So we found our friend that needed them. And you know what happened?? When he was handed them, he said he'd only take 2 pair, and leave the others for in case someone else needed them!!!!!!!!!! NOW if that ain't heart breaking. Then this precious little girl, dressed in the cutest lil orange flowered dress, about 9 yrs. old or so just came near us crying her lil heart out. When we asked what was wrong..........she just said through her broken sobs that she didn't like the shoes they had given her to wear. OOOOOoooooooooooo my. They were cute, white, but certainly didn't match with what she had on.......they were more like Sunday school shoes........not something you'd want on your feet all day. She said she sure wish she could have a pair of flip flops (I'm assuming since the sister had some).....and she'd like orange. BOY was that a tall order.........hehehehehe........sooooooooo...........we promised to find her some shoes she would like. SOMEHOW a pair of size 1 flip flops that had orange in them appeared. HOW did we find them in all those shoes, I don't know. Small miracle we all said. And when they fit her feet, it was like Cinderella finding her glass slipper. Off she ran to play with her sister afterwards................Very heartwarming. As we were leaving, I met up with one of my dad's cousins coming to the center. I found out she and her husband were there to find a family to come and live in a camp they have. It can provide for 10 people to live. WONDERFUL!!!!! THEN, Oprah aired her show today. MAN OH MAN.............sites unimaginable. Oprah AND Nate came so close to my home!!!!!!!! DANG I missed my chance. I absolutely love that woman!!! And Nate is just adorable. We lost it when we saw the portion of the young guy who didn't want to leave his dog behind. Saddest part was when Lisa stated what so many of us here have been thinking. Had this been a predominately middle class white community in such dire need, would the outcome have been different?? Truly sad. I don't think most of the country that enjoys (enjoyed..... :'() coming to New Orleans realized that the majority of the population in and around NO live WAY BELOW poverty level. Such a shame, but they are STILL AMERICAN HUMAN BEINGS. OOH, it makes me so mad. Black, white, Asian, Hispanic........WHATEVER......NO ONE deserves what these people have gone through. Well, we're off to work again tomorrow to help out at a different center. But, somehow, I just know something will draw me back to that first place. And perhaps I'll just have to have a brand new pair of orange flip flops in tow. Thank you all for listening, it helps love, EDNA |
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Title: Re: Need to let go some steam.... Post by Woobie on Sep 7th, 2005, 3:05am :'( :'( :'( :'( Edna - You ROCK! |
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