May 10 2008
Where Your Heart Is
I was talking to someone the other day who had just returned home from a trip to California. She said she went to visit a friend. She had attended Berkley many years ago and wanted to visit the campus while she was in the area. She said as they drove over the bridge she could see Berkley laid out in front of her and it made her feel happy just seeing it from a distance. She asked me, “Have you ever felt that way about a place?”
I feel that way about our house. I especially enjoy driving up to it on a spring or fall evening coming home from work. I love the soft light of the setting sun and the glow of lights in the windows indicating my husband is already home. Mind you, I love these long summer days when I can get home from work and still have daylight to take the dogs out to play. But there is something heartwarming about those times when seeing my home from the road makes me happy.
Last week there was a cyclone that hit Burma (Myanmar). The last numbers of people killed I heard were so shocking it gave me a sick feeling. The Burmese government says 20,000, the U.S. Government puts the death toll so much higher, it’s unimaginable. Here in our own country we have people who are still displaced after a hurricane in New Orleans nearly three years ago. How will a country as corrupt as Burma be able to regain any degree of normalcy after such a terrible disaster?
Unless you have been to New Orleans and seen the devastation first hand you can’t imagine what it’s really like. Whole neighborhoods are still without power and running water. Families are doing the best they can to stay together, but you can see how it could tear them apart. How it could ruin lives completely. I haven’t done any research, but I can imagine drug and alcohol abuse have skyrocketed since Katrina.
What can be done? If you can do anything, including standing on the floor and handing up tools to people on ladders, go help. There are denominations with disaster relief teams in the area in need of people to come help. The need for college aged students to come train to be crew chiefs for the summer are welcomed. If you don’t have a denomination already in place helping, contact the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. They would love to hear from you.
Burma is a world away, New Orleans is right here.
Fay,
Great writing. I love how you describe your house when you arrive home. I feel that too especially if all the boys are home. Part of my heart is in Chapel Hill. UNC holds so many memories for me, husband and now for two of my sons. It is great sharing those memories with them.
Again, thanks for all you have done to help the families of New Orleans. If I were able to go I would, but it is not possible at this time. Next trip you take, call me and I will see if I can meet you there.
Love,
Cindy
Hey Fay,
I’m wondering what happened to you - I hope you are doing well… Are you still out there? :-)danni