Wednesday, August 31, 2005

TOUCHED BY KATRINA

Katrina came and went without so much as a wisp of breeze through my hair.  I was safe within the embrace of the mountains. I was untouched.  Or so I thought, until I sent a casual email to my friend, inquiring how his daughter, whose husband was stationed at the hospital at Kessler AFB, was faring.  I was not prepared for the reply that the couple had been separated because of duty (the husband is a doctor.)  His daughter had safely left town with her father-in-law but the last my friends had heard from her was in the morning of the 29th as they stopped at Montgomery, AL on their way back in to Mississippi.

I'm sure that they are all okay, and communication with my friends will be made as soon as phone service has been restored.  Until then though, I like hundreds of thousands of others, will wait on pins and needles to get word of the safety and well being of family and loved ones.

My friends are especially anxious.  I photographed their daughter's wedding in late July.  The young couple have been husband and wife for just a little over a month.  But the 29th, the last day he heard from his daughter, was the 5th anniversary of the death of my friend's only son.  And today, the 31st, would have been his son's birthday.

The stories of tragedy, of triumph, of faith and hope are everywhere. My sister is still waiting to hear from her lifelong friend who lived in Mississippi, in an area that was devastated by the storm. 

I tried to put my hopes into a prayer this morning but could not find the words.  The destruction is so devastating, the human toll so high.  I believe even the Angels are weeping at the enormousy of it all.  For those of you who wait for word from loved ones, for those who already know their fate, for those who help in any way and every way possible, my thoughts are with you today.  America will rebuild, she always does.  It is our unity and human compassion that will get us from this over whelming moment of grief and disbelief, of pain and weakness, to the point where we can begin to rebuild.  We are our brother's keeper.  We are America.  It is what we are, it is who we are.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful entry, Dorn.  We are indeed our brother's keeper.  It is what life is all about.

Love and prayers,
Susan
http://journals.aol.com/rjet33/CountryLivingSouthernStyle

Anonymous said...

There sometimes just aren't words to say how you're feeling, kwim?  Thank you for putting my feelings into words.  I will be praying for your friends' family.
Hugs,
xoxo
Heather

Anonymous said...

Well Dorn it is my birthday today.....the big 40....what do I have to be thankful for...right now for my life..more  then what hundreds are going to be able to say now......my prayers are with your friend and her family as it is for somany others....Ihave a friend near new Orleans.....I finally got ahold of her after hours and hours of trying to get thru..lucky chance of redial....I also want you know to my prayers are with you and your family...for one about Nolan.and another for Gabe.....I have a hard enough time w/ my Zack being 2 states away.and not inthe military, I think I would live on Valium the rest of my life if he were to enlist....MY HEART IS WITH YOU ALL...
hugs and kisses
Traci

Anonymous said...

I feel guilty that we are having such a beautiful, sunny day today.  We had tons of rain yesterday, but that's all it was rain.  I am so grateful for a dry home.  So sad for all of the devistation.
Traci

Anonymous said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone waiting to hear from family and friends.
R.C.

Anonymous said...

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in harm's way. I cannot help but weep when I view the news about the storm victims...things can be replaced, lives can't. I wish more people had left the area...well, I know that all of America will pitch in and help somehow, someway...because there but for the grace of God ..go I. Hope that the ones you worry about are safe....Sandi

Anonymous said...

Amen to that Praying for your friends

Essayons

Deb

Anonymous said...

Good news.......Mark and Ike are okay.  Their house is one of only two still standing (light damage) and Ike's Hospital is one of only two structures still standing there in that complex.  Their Guardian Angel was certainly on duty.  AMEN!