This is very weird and sad for me..

[enigmatic]

As some know, I'm an Expat living in Canada, 4 years now. I came up here 3 months before 9/11, and it seems like Katrina is the latest of disasters of natural and otherwise since I've moved up here.

It's so weird; I feel like I'm watching it from the "safety" of my new home, and I admit, I feel a little guilty about it. I love my big, beautiful, mess of a country, and watching Katrina hit NOLA before my eyes drives it home for me. It's just so surreal right now.

[KitchenWitch]

1. Do not feel guilty

It is sad for me in a strange way...I knew several people from Louisiana when I went through rehab 20+ years ago...obviously life happened and we all lost touch with each other, but rehab is such an intense experience, I feel like I carry pieces of these people with me.

Wally, Drew and Frank, know that you are in my thoughts tonight! :cry:

[enigmatic]

7. It's just been one surreal experience after another

after I moved up here; this is just the latest, it seems. :hug:

[Heidi]

2. Exactly.

But I believe in collective consciousness, and am sending a lot of love and healing home right now.

:hug:

[enigmatic]

8. Me too

no matter what anybody says about that otherwise:)

[Daphne08]

3. You shouldn't feel guilty,

but part of me does understand what you mean. You know I lived overseas for a while.

It'll be okay. :pals:

[enigmatic]

5. I hope so, Daphne

In a way, this is worse than a sudden natural disaster; it feels like a slow-motion catastrophe I'm witnessing right now. :hug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. You bastard!

Feel better? ;)


I am on the edge of my seat...so many great memories in Nola....I'm just holding out hope

[enigmatic]

6. LOL!

Thanks, I needed that:)

I've got a bunch of great memories there, too; best food I've ever had in my life was there, plus some of thre coolest people I've ever met. It's a city unlike any other in the US..

[tuvor]

9. I think I know what you mean about "feeling guilty"

There are almost no natural disasters to worry about in your part of Canada.

There's the occasional little flood, and deadly tornados are rare. Except for the cold winters, it's pretty worry-free.

We're all hoping for the best. Take 'er easy.

[enigmatic]

10. Pretty much

The cold and the snow is all we have to worry about, though we've had bad tornadoes in the past, I guess.

Thanks bro:)

[Spinzonner]

11. When the polar ice cap finishes melting

you might have some water problems yourselves up there.

[Ladyhawk]

12. I'm not sure what I'm feeling, but I've been shaking all over today.

I don't know anyone except DUers from the area. I've never been there, but I feel just completely wiped out and the storm hasn't even hit yet.

(((enigmatic)))

Don't feel guilty. We'll just have to be ready to help in whatever way we can once the storm is over. For many that will mean giving blood or volunteering. For folks like me, it may mean a small donation and some concern. For now, it's out of our hands.

[enigmatic]

13. I know

You're right. It's just that I've had more than a few people that still live in the US that I know tell me how lucky I am to be up here, and I guess it finally hit me tonight watching all this..

I'm going to go do some programming; I'll check back in later this morning:)

[Fleshdancer]

14. you have my jumping through hoops love...

I posted this in the GD thread but you deleted it! Here's what I wrote:

I moved back to the States less than a year before 9/11 and during the horror of that day, my mind wondered to the thought of "I'm so glad I'm not in Japan right now". Mainly because moving back to America meant that I was surrounded by people who were experiencing the same emotions.

I understand what you mean. There's an odd sense of solidarity with your country when your within its borders that you don't really have when you're somewhere else. It isn't logical though since you're getting the same news and updates that I'm getting (I'm in TX) but it just feels different. Hard to explain. Just keep reminding yourself that many Americans IN America are feeling just as frustrated as you are. We all wish we could do more but we can't.

[enigmatic]

15. Thanks Gloria

I originally wanted to post the thread here; I screwed up posting it in GD:)

I'm donating money in th morning and hopefully it won't be as bad as it seems it will. All we can do is hope, I guess..

[Fleshdancer]

16. Donating in Canada is far more useful than not donating in America...

You're doing your part. NO is better for it. :hug: