Friday, September 02, 2005

No other word for it but blessed

I have never been a terribly religious, Bible thumping type of girl, but this experience has shown me truly the best and worst in humanity. I have already ranted about the worst but let me touch on the best. Y'all have been truly amazing. So many comments (took me forever to read) from people who have never even read my blog, found me through someone else and came by to say that they hope I am ok, offer me a place to live, jobs, money, etc. It is truly a beautiful thing. I feel so very lucky. My family and friends back in New Orleans seem to be ok. Luckily they have an emergency land line at the station so that I can be in touch with my husband at the fire station. The original plan was for me to buy him a gun. A GUN PEOPLE. I don't do guns. I am a lover, not a fighter. However, if it comes down to my husband or some looter, well, you do the math. Nevertheless, I can't purchase one. I am in MS and you have to buy the gun in the state in which you reside. So that's done. Gas is an issue - can't get any. I have enough gas to drive home either Monday or Tuesday and back. I can't be trekking across the state line in order to buy firearms. They have plenty of guns at the station but most are shot guns and the husband wanted a handgun to keep on his belt. It just did not work out. The worst seems to be over. Yesterday was a rough rough day. I spoke to my father who cries NEVER. He was crying. I was crying. He feels awful that I had to leave my husband behind in that nightmare. I spoke to my brother. By then I had pulled it together, thankfully. Today the National Guard and various troops entered the city and are starting to maintain order. I am hopeful that my husband is ok and safe now. True, it sucks but at least he is with his co-workers and has food and is ok. That is all I can ask. It is amazing that when something like this happens, the trival stuff does not matter. You boil your needs down to what truly matters. And that is my family - immediate and extended - are safe. My pets are safe. Pissed but safe. We have family that loves us and is caring for us so well. Thankfully we still have income coming in. Every single person I have met has been unreal. I actually almost cried on the phone today talking to the Wells Fargo mortgage lady. I just called to see if there was some sort of protocol I should be doing and when she found out where I lived, she just went "Darlin' you do not have to pay your mortgage until December 1. You do not need to worry about trivial stuff like that. I will pray for you and your husband." They had already put a stay in place for 3 months for all the parishes affected in Louisiana. She was so kind. I think I am so used to the hard side of people that when true kindness and compassion comes out, it shocks me. And then there is y'all. I just can't even come close to expressing my gratitude. The offers of money, homes, employment, prayers, wonderful thoughts and well wishes have just overwhelmed me. Truly. Y'all are just so special and I will never ever forget that. I am not on a computer too often but I wanted to at least say that I am still here; I am safe; and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I just ask that you continue to send good energy and prayers down for my husband. I am still worried about him even with the improvement in the situation over the course of today. His name is Vincent. I call him Cookie. He is a big bear of a man who is the most easy going, passive, goofball of a man I have ever met. The thought of him holding a gun in order to protect himself or a co-worker is unfathomable to me. It is just not in his make up. I am certainly not taking issue with those who are comfy with guns because those very same people are who are keeping him safe. I am just saying that it is not his way. I guess you just do what you have to do. Anyway, I have rambled on and on but basically just wanted to let y'all know that I am fine and safe and to say thanks to all of you for every single thing. I apologize for not getting in touch with those of you who have left numbers but it has been madness and phone lines even here in MS are touch and go. I figure if I update on here, you will know I am ok. Thanks to everyone. I can't say that enough. :)

Elizabeth at 9:14 PM

29comments

29 Comments

at 10:00 PM Sherriatric said...: SFG: Hang in there, chica. I hope your husband continues to stay safe and that you two are together again soon.

Everyone else: I have started a little bake sale over on my site. All proceeds will go to benefit SFG and Amanda B., my two blogfriends who have been affected by Katrina. Please stop by and get yourself some sweets if you'd like.

lasadh.com
at 11:26 PM Katie said...: SFG, GIRL, I am so glad to hear that you are allright!!! I have been so busy the past week that I hadn't blogged, but I was so thinking of you through this whole ordeal! I live in Houston, as you know, and we are housing 40,000 wonderful New Orleans residents at the Astrodome. My sister, just tonight, helped cook food for all of them, since she works for a huge food distributor. She said the people are wonderful, caring people, and they just want to be able to rest and eat some good food. And while it is going to be a long road, I know these people are going to thrive and make it through. And so will you. Personal possessions may be lost, and that has to be a horrible thing, but I am so glad that you are okay. And your hubby, too!

Just so you know, and I am totally 100 percent serious, you can definitely come stay with me anytime. I live right in the Galleria area of Houston, and it is a fun place close to downtown with a lot of great things to do. I have a spare bedroom, well it is little Pat's bedroom, and as long as you don't mind sleeping on Spiderman sheets, you can sleep there. You and your husband are welcome to stay for as long as possible, and you won't have to pay for a thing.

I send you all my love and best wishes, and feel free to e-mail me to let me know if you need anything.
at 1:53 AM Candy said...: Glad to hear your hanging in there, Ive been stopping by hoping to hear from you soon.

Please let us know when your hubby gets to join you and things start to settle down. I hope that it will be very very soon for you both, I heard there was fighting on the news today and I thought of him and you and hoped you would be safe and well.
at 2:10 AM Kelly said...: Keeping you and your husband in my prayers, along with prayers for all in the Gulf Coast. I am not a "gun" person either, and I would probably vomit if My husband asked me to buy him a gun!

God bless you - I wish I could offer more!
at 8:29 AM Nessa said...: you're in my thoughts every minute of every day! i'm glad you are okay!
at 8:30 AM Nessa said...: oh, and I wanted to tell you if you didn't know that the car loan people are doing the same thing if you need to call about that...
at 8:46 AM Nilbo said...: Nobody can tell you how to get through this - you're going through trials that relatively few people on the face of the earth have endured. But I'm convinced the way to weather the "storm after the storm" without suffering damage to your soul that no insurance can cover is to focus on the few rays of positive light. Slowly they'll gather into a beam, then the beam will get wider .. and before you know it, it's a sunny day.

I'm not tryin' to blow some Pollyanna smoke up yer arse here ... just reaffirming what you seem to have discovered on your own: that family, friends, and this little community here that has gathered round to offer support are what you'll remember long after the waters have subsided.

I wouldn't have wished your run of luck in the past week on anybody. But the love you're surrounded by? Would that we could all have a taste of that.

Our thoughts are with your husband, who is one of the heroes trying to make the world a better place ...
at 9:51 AM Weetzie said...: SFG, thinking of you daily and sending good thoughts to you and everyone who has been affected by Katrina.
at 10:19 AM Leesa said...: My thoughts and prayers are with you daily too. And Cookie :)
at 11:48 AM Susie said...: Just checking in. *sigh* Blessed, indeed. I think, FINALLY, someone is getting a clue of what needs to be done, and the assistance, order, etc., is being put in place. I hope it's SOON SOON SOON that you are back with your big Cookie. Prayers continue. I hope both you and Vincent have many more instances of people doing the right thing as you navigate through this awful time.
at 8:12 AM Pipi Longstockings said...: Love & prayers.
at 9:05 AM Danielle said...: gurl i am glad y'all are okay, i think about you all all the time. I am praying for you guys!
at 6:07 PM babyjewels said...: you're in my thoughts. be well.
at 9:46 AM Christine said...: You've been in my thoughts and prayers.
at 2:53 PM Julie Marsh said...: Just found you, and I'm so glad I did. Wow. I've read a lot of opinions on a lot of other blogs over the past several days, but it has been truly eye-opening to hear from someone who's actually a survivor of Katrina. I sincerely wish you and your loved ones the very best, and I will return - not just for updates on Katrina's aftermath, but for regular reading as well.
at 3:21 PM Unknown said...: Wow, when I read your post describing the "ugly" people of New Orleans you brought me back to when I lived there as a child. It is the worst place I have ever lived. When I saw the situation at the super dome I knew exactly why it was getting that way. Me and my siblings were beat up all the time just for being white. And while there were a few good people there, unfortunatley most of them weren't. I was hoping it had changed since I'd lived there. I had heard Algiers was better (I lived on the Navy base), but seeing everything that has been going on, I guess not.

Our friends husband who is a police officers here in Jacksonville has made his way to Biloxi. You should have seen the weapons he had in his trunk. I hope he won't have to use them. I know his wife is very upset at his having to go as they have two small children.

I send the best to you and your husband. You will get through this. America is pulling for you.

Holly
at 10:45 PM Anonymous said...: Hey my sweetheart. I'm so sorry about all of this. If there's anything I can do to help PLEASE let me know. Where are you now??
at 10:18 AM Bex said...: Hey SFG :)
I am so glad to know that you & yours are as OK as can be expected. You are in my thoughts - if there is ever anything this girl from Miami can do for you, don't hesitate to let me know!
at 5:02 PM Random and Odd said...: You let me know when you need anything okay? I have the money sitting there. The donations are still coming in.

Your blogging friends love you so very much!!
at 5:29 PM Anonymous said...: God keep you and your loved ones safe.
at 6:53 PM Buck Rogers said...: CRASH: Buck's Roommate here, Tony
Thats crazy. Now I know why Buck bought a gun before he left (illegally I might add). Sorry to hear about everything. Hope all is well. I'll keep yu in my thoughts and prayers.
at 8:53 PM Pissy Britches said...: We luv you girl.
Glad you are feeling a little better about the whole situation. I am so glad you are ok and that your hubby is ok. This will all be over before we know it and you and your lil' sexy hubby can go back to makin babies.
So sorry for everything you are going through. Just know we are here for you.
at 10:10 AM Shari said...: Girl, you and your husband are in my prayers every night!
at 11:02 AM Nessa said...: Hi darlin' - hope you're okay - please call me or email me so I can get a care package sent to you and to the fire station for hubster. Plus, we have lots of people getting money together for you. We blove you!
at 12:14 PM c said...: Hi; found you through Torrie and Nilbo. I'm so sorry for what you're having to go through. I know you don't know me from Adam, but if there is anything I can do for you...ANYthing...please don't hesitate to ask. Pet food, tissues, underpants (not USED, sheesh!)...you name it, it's in a box to you ASAP.
at 7:43 PM MsPerdie said...: SFG - I am so glad to hear that you and your hsband (and pets :)) are doing OK. This is such a sad state of affairs, and you're right, it really puts LIFE as a whole into perspective. I wish that everyone could be like you, and the people in blogland (ummm, I'm thinking mostly about GWB), and feel the sympathy in their hearts for everyone who has lost, has had to leave their homes (heart), etc. If you EVER need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. You're in my prayers, both you and your husband, and all those affected by this tragedy, every night.
at 9:04 PM Anonymous said...: We're praying for you. Rooting for your family and the others who've survived, willing everything to be ok once again. Better than ok.

And we'll cheer you on with loud joyful voices when the recovery gets underway.
at 1:56 PM Annejelynn said...: yes, as if it isn't clear already, YOU ARE LOVED and we're all rooting for your recovery!
at 8:32 PM Anonymous said...: I hope you are doing well tonight. I understand all your feelings - they are the same as my good friends from NOLA. It's a very unique city that most people do not understand. I'm so glad you got out safely. I pray your husband stays safe, too. Please let us know how we can help you! -Carol