I think your words are wise, that information overload is yet another trauma that can compound the storm and aftermath and getting back to the little things, hobbies, household tasks, projects that there never seemed time for, and the little things in life that really matter to you is the best thing we can do right now... especially those of us too far from the area to actually physically help... getting busy with our own lives, remembering that no matter how mad the tragedy was or turns out to be in the end, we survived and have a life to live... we have things to do... work and play to do... right now I think it's all about getting busy...

and when we feel inspired to write something, whatever words come out should be let out... whatever the emotion, whatever the subject, whatever the opinion, we must release it... we must do the impossible, which is find some humor, find some positive, find something in the world that can lift our spirits...

that is psychic and spiritual survival and that is just as important as physical survival...

there is no doubt that the people in the storm's path were hurt the most and those in the storm's path and those in the New Orleans flood will continue to suffer the most direct trauma... but just as it happened after 9/11, all compassionate people are traumatized by the events... the storm, the flood, the governmental bungling, the defensive finger-pointing, the careless statements by politicians, will haunt us all for a long time...

we need to find activities that will help us remember how to feel good... we need to find things to do that will satisfy our need to help others and also things to do that will keep us from sinking into depression... keeping in touch with friends, making new friends, taking vacations, getting busy with life, that's what we need to do...

yes, a church service on a concrete slab, that is good news... now we need to see the community come together and have a few barn-raisings... we need to rekindle the pioneer spirit and remember that we were once not the comfortable and lazy couch potatoes so many Americans have become...

we are a country founded by people who came over on wooden boats that would not even be considered safe for roller coaster ride chairs today and these boats faced the storms and power of the oceans...

we are a country built from the ground up by people who brought few tools, very few resources, and much faith in their spirituality and physical ability to survive...

we were once a people of pioneers, innovators, leaders in every aspect of human life... our forefathers, despite many obstacles and mistakes, looked at a wilderness and saw homes, communities, schools, places for the spirit, and they built roads, bridges, industry and technology (at times before our wisdom could catch up, but still, we built an unprecedented country that for more than a hundred years was the most attractive place to be in the world... that strength and intelligence is still our gene pool, that vision and hope is still within us...

we need to get busy and do what we used to do best, build couches instead of just sitting on them, build TVs instead of just watching them... we need to get busy repairing the land, the river, the homes and community buildings that shelter and support our lives... we need to get innovative, learn from others in the world with experience ahead of ours and take steps forward in building and advancing human life...

hey, who put this soapbox under me?...

actually, he did...

thanks Tim J

this weekend week was my attempt to support The Red Cross by partricipating in Blogging for Relief... the first entries inspired by this effort and the events in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina can be found here:

and you noticed missing numbers, of course you did, you're no fools... the missing numbers are the following three entries now dedicated to deliverance (from evil, madness, dirty drawers, and many other things) and respectfully dubbed:

because they were mostly guest entries to pass along email from a friend who witnessed Mississippi first hand cuz he lives there... bless him and his family, in fact, do it yourself...

find someone touched by the events of the past week and share some love...

and then go tell Michael and Tim and our own DLand Michael something good J

You can go into Walmart anywhere in the country, log onto any walmart website, even call an 800 number and either post a message to loved ones or search for messages from loved ones. Anyone can use it.

It is available at any Wal-Mart Store, SAM'S CLUB, Neighborhood Market, or Distribution Center via the hiring center kiosks, connection center kiosks, gift registry, and all Wal-Mart websites.

. o O ( NOTES ARE THE NEW HAPPY PILL ) O o .
(just let me know you were here)