musings on two incredible forces of nature

What a day! Ted Kennedy's televised funeral took place today, August 29th, and this is the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Two amazing, juxtaposed forces of positive and negative energy. I wonder what, if anything, to make of this confluence of events. The senator's service was very moving, speaking volumes of the love and respect held for this man and the work he'd accomplished in his life of public service. What I've witnessed of the recovery of New Orleans from the crippling blow dealt by Katrina, this part of the world has a spirit and resiliency to be envied anywhere! Maybe the power of the human spirit to persevere, often against staggering odds, is the lesson I should be pondering today.

Yesterday so many of you wrote, encouraging me about this idea of my blogging to chronicle my first year in New Orleans. Thank you! Some wrote (via emails) that they didn't know how to log on to post a reply. I'm sorry to say I don't have answer, but I hope any of you interested in responding will preserve until you find the course, then let the rest of us know, or, if you already possess this wisdom, please share it with us!! I'm so looking forward to an on going dialogue with you all.

As I prepared for the move down here (it took two years from the time John took a position here) for me to actually get in the car and head south) so many things plagued my mind and heart. Some were "reasonable" concerns, from how hard it would be to leave the "kids", (average age 30!) what it would be like to say goodbye to our friends, our parents, and community we loved, and then, getting the house ready for sale was a whole other [GIANT] can of worms (we ended up renting it). Other concerns, more theoretical, began to creep into my "worry zone." For instance, would I take John's grandmothers beautiful, ancient writing desk with us, because I love it, knowing I'll be risking having to leave it behind if a hurricane were to come barreling in over the city and force us to evacuate. The alternative would be to place it in storage in Washington St. where it would sit, for who know how long, with no one enjoying it at all. I had this kind of discussion with myself over and over again, about many things, until I realized how materialistic I sounded, even to myself.

It's stuff. Pure and simple, just stuff. One piece of stuff might be more beautiful, or useful, or have more history, than another, but it's still stuff none the less! Last night, while talking with a friend, she told me a story about a friend of hers who had lost a son to suicide. This friend of a friend said after the loss of her son; nothing else in the world matters to her now except relationships! It's the same reality I had (ever so slowly) come to grips with during my plotting and planning for the big move to NOLA!! All the wonderful stuff that decorates our lives, is just that; stuff. It's the people you love that are important!

If one day we have to get in the car and drive away from what ever danger is presenting its self, we can fondly remember (or not) the "stuff" we leave behind, but we'll end up with each other to hold on to, and that's what really matters.

thanks for "listening"
my