Saturday, September 03, 2005

Glued to the television

Last weekend, about this time, I was glued to the television for a different reason. I'm a Weather Channel junkie - I think this stems from the fact that as a child, the Weather Channel was the only channel we were allowed to watch in the house before we went to school. In any case, last Saturday I brought my knitting (and laundry, ahem...) over to my in-laws' house, plopped myself on the sofa, and watched the impending hurricane coverage for 3 or 4 hours.

I never expected what came.

I don't think you can.

They talked about worst case scenarios, potential structural damage, telling people to get out of the area - but you always think that the storm will lose strength, hit a relatively less-populated area... but it didn't. So, I have been glued to the TV, switching back and forth between all of the 24 hour news channels. I don't watch it when Willow is around - I'll let her play and watch her programs on Noggin - but while she does that I find myself slinking away to the computer to read what else is going on.

I'm sickened and sad - wondering why on bloody earth it took so long for help to arrive - why FEMA didn't even realize that there were people at the Convention Center. I lost it last night watching coverage of a man who had to leave his dog on a roof because his rescuers wouldn't let the dog in the boat. The camera panned back as the boat floated on, showing this Lab cross wagging his tail and watching his owner go. Jesus Christ - I'm crying now as I write this. I'm not even directly affected by the storm or its aftermath and I am finding myself depressed. I cannot fathom what these people - especially the children will have in their hearts and minds after that.

I can only hold onto my daughter and pray that she will never have to know anything like this.

3 comments:

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Jo said...

I think I have been spammed...

Anonymous said...

I think you have too! That's totally wierd.

I have had a very similar response to the hurricaine. Your thoughts on it are very eloquent and heart-felt. In the aftermath of such horror, I am left hoping that at least some good can come from people around our country and the world helping each other. 1,000 refugees from the storm arrived in my homestate today and more to come. I hope if we all open our hearts and give what ever resources we can help to mend the pain that the survivors are going through. Have you seen the knitting response to the disaster?
http://zeneedle.typepad.com/give_a_little/

I'm glad there's something we can do, however small, at times like this to reach out to others.

-your SP