I bring you another message from our friend in Mississippi, Tim, who, with the experience of one who whatched much of the world around him blow away, expresses the spectrum of emotions being felt by many of us near and far away from the devastation. We are blessed by his strength, his candor, and his humanity.


From timdangerous, Mississippi, USA:

Things here are okayish, the cleanup here won't be as tedious as what others have to endure.

My hometown will be pretty much back to quasinormal within a short time. I think New Orleans and the gulf coast will never be as we knew it again.

Right now, as silly as it seems, guilt is what I feel, and I see it on all the faces I see near me. We were extremely lucky , yet, feel guilty somehow that we did escape the total destruction that the coast is feeling and will continue to feel for many many months.

Today I watched the gas stations raise prices above 3.00 per gallon. I witnessed anger from those discovering that their ATM cards and many Visa charge cards were useless, as the center for those services is under water in New Orleans.

The south is crippled now, weak and vulnerable. It concerns me that Katrina has been all but a primer on how to disable a country and bring us to our knees. Without shadow of doubt our enemies are watching this unfold, taking notes and learning from this experience.

While terrorists could never duplicate the power, energy and desruction that is a catagory 5 hurricane, they are no doubt watching with glee as water pours into New Orleans.

I have heard much debate on the rebuilding of the south.

The south will rebuild. My part of the country has seen death and destruction before, she has rebuilt before, and she will be stronger, better, and wiser that before.

We are a strong peoples, that may very well have grown complacent in recent years, but like a sibling will, we unite when hardship arrives or when we've been "wronged".

Has mother nature wronged us?

Some will say that is the case. I won't venture that far, but I will say this; It is my belief that everything that happens, happens for a reason. That reason is not within our grasp of understanding now, and may never be. It is not our place to understand why this thing has happened or what or why the great spirit does the things he does. It is only our place to react in the correct manner and learn the lessons to be used on life's trail.

Mississippi will endure this, even though we loose 3.5 million per day in lost tax moneys from the closing of the casinos. The south will endure, as will our great country, we will take away lessons and preparedness skills unknown before.

As an aside, it is one of my hopes that our country's everyday person finally realizes the absolute and complete dependance we now have on oil. I trully hope that if nothing else, this races foward the need in people's minds the need for alternative power sources.

But as for the time being, this is a very somber time here.

Many still searching for word of lost family and friends, hoping to have a home to return to, this is a somber night indeed.

I pray for those in need tonight, and for those hurting. I have my family and my friends, and they are all in good health. For that, I somehow feel guilty.

I'm sure I will feel that way for a long time to come.

Good night, and thank you for caring.

*hugs*

Tim
Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

Our thoughts, our prayers, and our love goes out to you, Tim and your family, and all those effected by the storm... and all the hope in the world is yours right now... I am proud to know you, my friend.

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