Brian: I just remembered that you were in New Orleans quite recently. Crazy. How come you haven’t blogged anything about that?
Me: Yeah...I don't know why I haven't really said anything about New Orleans, except...what's left to say? I really don't want to take this tragedy and turn it into something that's all about me: "Wow, I really dodged a bullet this time, didn't I?" That just seems so dismissive and callous and self-centered, somehow. But I guess I should write something, because my heart has been breaking every time I hear a new story coming out of there, which means that I've basically been avoiding the news as much as I can, since I can't handle it. Which makes me a wuss, I know, since I've been to NO exactly once, and my home wasn't there, and no close personal friends to speak of were there...what right do I have to be so thin-skinned about it? But yeah, that's basically why I haven't mentioned it.
But now, of course, you know I've got to post this email to my blog. ;-) It's the way of the blogosphere.
I don't want to imply disinterest through my silence so far, I really don't. New Orleans is the best example in my life of a city that I instantly fell in love with, from the first day I set foot in it--more so for me than Los Angeles, or New York, or Chicago. I'm sure that partly had to do with the fact that I had my own personal miniature Southern Decadence celebration a month early while I was there, but it was more than that. Against all heartless naysayers, I can see why people would dig in their heels and stay there for generations, potential hurricanes be damned. I was there for four days, and I love it too.
I'm just not the type to do my hand-wringing in public. I've sent money to help those along the Gulf Coast who were hardest hit, and I pray. I hope you do the same.
