Levees

"Make levees, not war."
-Bumper sticker on North Ave.

Of course, it was strategically placed above a Louisiana license plate. However, as a fellow Louisiana driver, this hit close to home. My mom and sister just got back from a church mission trip down to New Orleans; they brought back many stories of the devastation of the area. They say that the most heartwrenching part is that it will be years, if ever, that the area will live again. Right now, you drive through neighborhoods where life once spilled out on the street, and you do not see a soul. Strange.

I've gotten hooked on the Anderson Cooper blog as of late. He has been such an important voice for the people of Louisiana. I hope that he continues to keep this story alive. Currently Anderson and his crew are reporting from Lebanon as this Israeli-Lebanon conflict continues. They have compared the evacuation of Americans in Lebanon to the evacuation of South Louisianans before Katrina. I'm not really sure what I make of that. Sure there are some similarities, but there are plenty of differences. There have also been questions raised about who should pay for the evacuations from Lebanon.

I don't pretend to know all of the issues. But, if we question who pays for the evacuations in Lebanon, should we question who pays for the evacuations from the Gulf Coast? My hometown is 5 hours and 17 minutes away from New Orleans, and most of the time we claim that we are more Texan than Louisianan. But yet, we are paying for this disaster when our neighbors across the state line are paying very little. Yes, there may be more crime, more unemployment, housing shortages, but they will not have to deal with budget cuts across the board. Everyone all over Louisiana is sacrificing because of the hurricane, regardless of their race, class, or even location.

God bless the Gulf.

Silliness

"Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly."
-Rose Franken

Last night Rob and I had the time of our lives. We have fun most of the times we're together, but last night we were just silly. Instead of going to sleep, we just giggled. It was so refreshing and just plain fun! Let's be silly more often. And, let's get something straight, I can hold my left leg up for five straight minutes. :) It's all those exercises I've been doing. Thanks Cathe Friedrich!

A New Friend

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are."
-Anonymous

And, what a blessing it is to know in an instant that a person is your friend. Lisa is the preacher at Epworth UMC where I've been visiting. From the moment I walked into the sanctuary on my first Sunday, we had a connection. A connection that I don't remember feeling anywhere else before. She took a genuine interest in my story. Last week she stopped by my house after work. We chatted for over an hour. It was absolutely amazing. We talked about ourselves, our families, the church, mission work--everything.

I am who I am because of all of the laughter and the tears in my life. But, I don't make it a point to share all of these moments with someone the minute I meet them. I'm proud of these obstacles--they're embedded within every bone in my body. But, these are things that I usually share as a relationship develops--as the trust grows. And even then, I feel a bit vulnerable afterwards. However, it just felt right to share these intimate stories with Lisa right off the bat. And, instead of vulnerability, I felt a sort of peace.

I may have met an angel, and if not an angel, then most definitely a friend.

Beginnings

"Mighty things from small beginnings grow."
-John Dryden

This is the first post of my first ever blog. People start blogs because they think they have something important to say. I don't promise that I do.

But nevertheless, this is the beginning. In fact, I'm living a life of beginnings right now. I am living by myself for the first time, decorating my first apartment. I'm learning to cook and manage my money. I've begun to attend the church down the street, and I'm trying to start an exercise routine. I just started my first full time job, paid my first bills, and signed the papers for my first life insurance. That sounds so mundane to most people I'm sure, but right now they seem like important milestones. Well, we'll hope that mighty things are on their way!