KARTINA STOLE MY CHILDHOOD
I am writing in an attempt to establish some sort of solace for myself. My parents lost their home as a result of Katrina. This is the home I grew up in; had many of my life experiences in; obtained the foundation to my journey into womanhood and into a human being. It’s gone...all of it.
THIS IS REAL! Lives lost. Individuals sometimes forget the south is there and may at times write us off as one big backwoods town(and in some areas this may be so). No problem ignorance is bliss . However, I think sometimes people in other areas of the nation might be more prone to natural disasters, Midwest tornadoes and West coast earthquakes i.e. and these are very devastating in any capacity. But as this has proven the worst natural disaster ever, there are still individuals who didn’t think it could happen. People are at a loss for words at the thought that the magnitude of this disaster has taken place. I grew up in this area and still will never be ready for what has happened. My home, my city is gone…all gone.
The media…well what can you say. They will always do them just as bitter sweet as ever. But I have one question to pose…was Mississippi hit or is that speculation. I heard MS was the hardest hit, yet it is rarely reflected in mass media. I heard it was destroyed, I heard all 12 casinos are gone, I heard one casino was raised by a 25 ft. serge of water and landed on top of a hotel, I heard the stench of dead bodies and rotting flesh is immeasurable, I heard there were 3 boats in our front yard, I heard there were items from other homes in our home and yard, I HEARD 5 DEAD BODIES WERE FOUND IN MY BACK YARD RIGHT THERE IN BILOXI. When a reporter speaks about Biloxi or MS, they are still showing misleading clips of New Orleans. I also want to know what is going on “where I’m from”. But what can you say? I mean clearly, MS is not known for the many things, but we have suffered losses too. New Orleans is under water…Biloxi is GONE. The buildings, the homes which are in ALL socio-economic areas are gone - receding water or not. I just want the world to keep us in your prayers as well, as our devastation is masked by others' devastation.
Currently my parents were blessed to find a place to live, but don't know if they will rebuild or not. My Dad is a retired military man so he does the whole “spilled milk” thing, but my mom, she has not cried yet. She has been going and going and has yet to shed a tear. I can tell her spirit is weak and don’t know what to do. She is not in the best of health herself and 3 days after she lost her house her mother was hospitalized. She has not cried yet. But I have. This is all surreal. I feel as though I am a shell of my former self. Am I watching the on-goings of the world from another realm? It’s crazy. It’s gone…all gone.
I am my parent’s only child. I still have them and so I am blessed.
THIS IS REAL! Lives lost. Individuals sometimes forget the south is there and may at times write us off as one big backwoods town(and in some areas this may be so). No problem ignorance is bliss . However, I think sometimes people in other areas of the nation might be more prone to natural disasters, Midwest tornadoes and West coast earthquakes i.e. and these are very devastating in any capacity. But as this has proven the worst natural disaster ever, there are still individuals who didn’t think it could happen. People are at a loss for words at the thought that the magnitude of this disaster has taken place. I grew up in this area and still will never be ready for what has happened. My home, my city is gone…all gone.
The media…well what can you say. They will always do them just as bitter sweet as ever. But I have one question to pose…was Mississippi hit or is that speculation. I heard MS was the hardest hit, yet it is rarely reflected in mass media. I heard it was destroyed, I heard all 12 casinos are gone, I heard one casino was raised by a 25 ft. serge of water and landed on top of a hotel, I heard the stench of dead bodies and rotting flesh is immeasurable, I heard there were 3 boats in our front yard, I heard there were items from other homes in our home and yard, I HEARD 5 DEAD BODIES WERE FOUND IN MY BACK YARD RIGHT THERE IN BILOXI. When a reporter speaks about Biloxi or MS, they are still showing misleading clips of New Orleans. I also want to know what is going on “where I’m from”. But what can you say? I mean clearly, MS is not known for the many things, but we have suffered losses too. New Orleans is under water…Biloxi is GONE. The buildings, the homes which are in ALL socio-economic areas are gone - receding water or not. I just want the world to keep us in your prayers as well, as our devastation is masked by others' devastation.
Currently my parents were blessed to find a place to live, but don't know if they will rebuild or not. My Dad is a retired military man so he does the whole “spilled milk” thing, but my mom, she has not cried yet. She has been going and going and has yet to shed a tear. I can tell her spirit is weak and don’t know what to do. She is not in the best of health herself and 3 days after she lost her house her mother was hospitalized. She has not cried yet. But I have. This is all surreal. I feel as though I am a shell of my former self. Am I watching the on-goings of the world from another realm? It’s crazy. It’s gone…all gone.
I am my parent’s only child. I still have them and so I am blessed.
