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Dear Maria: A Letter From Louisiana Sandusky (Hurricane Katrina) by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Rated "G" by the Author.
Louisiana responds to a woman in Mississippi who went through Hurricane Katrina; she first met her when she was in Mississippi helping out with relief efforts, and Maria wrote her a letter to thank her for caring for her. She now writes back to Maria, to see how she is coping from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Weds., September 28, 2005, 10:56 a.m., C.D.T.~
Dear Maria Jones~
Yes, incredibly, I do happen to remember you. You were the sweet woman who kept worrying about me; thank you so much for your prayers and concern! I certainly do hope that you are feeling better by the time you get this (whenever THAT may be; it may be a while before you do).
To tell you about myself, Maria, I am married to a wonderful man (14 years now), and we are the (adoptive) parents to 53 children, most, of whom, have special needs (yes, Maria, you read correctly!!). Most of the children are here with us, but the oldest five (all daughters) are on their own (two live near us here in Nashville, in an apartment complex for people with disabilities, two more are attending college in Texas and Louisiana respectively--both survived the hurricanes, I am happy to say; we heard from them the other day, much to our relief!!--, and the oldest daughter is married and has five children, which officially makes me a proud grandma! :) ). Our children range in age from a year-and-a-half on up to 24, and they come from places like Africa, India, the United States of America, Canada, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Bosnia-Hergozovina, Russia, Romania, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Italy, and Iran); and their disabilities range from the very mild (or hidden, to where they are not that noticeable) to the most serious (or life-threatening), such as cystic fibrosis, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, serious allergies, or spastic (or athetoid) quadriplegic cerebral palsy (coupled with profound mental retardation). We also can add heart disease to this mix.
I was born in "Hurricane Country"--southern Louisiana, around Lafayette; I was born in Breaux Bridge--, so I know of the power and fear that these great storms can cause. I was in Hurricane Camille way back in 1969 (I was just barely out of my mama's tummy at the time; I was born in June; Camille hit in August; so I don't remember anything about it; but I have read articles, seen pictures, or archival footage of Camille on television, and have heard stories about her). I was also in Hurricane Andrew bck in 1992 while we were in Louisiana, and hurricanes certainly ARE frightening! I hope never to experience a hurricane like Camille or Andrew EVER again; if I even REMOTELY KNEW that there was a hurricane threatening the Texas/Louisiana coastline, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will do everything in my power to get my family to safety and/or shelter!! I still remember Hurricane Andrew's roaring winds, the sound of heavy, unrelenting, torrential rains pounding against the shelter we were at, and trying to calm myself--and my terrified family--, and it is nothing that I'd care to go through again, thankyewverymuch!! I also remember being stuck in traffic on our way TO shelter, and with kids who are sick or who have serious, chronic medical conditions or illnesses, being stuck in traffic is NOT the place to be, especially if one of them happens to get into trouble! (I guess this is one of the main reasons that I left Louisiana--to get away from those tropical monsters!!)
Both my husband and myself work: I am a charge nurse at a hospital only 10 minutes away from where we live, and my husband works at Wal*Mart, where he is a "people-greeter". I am also a published author: I have written three books (one about nursing, the other two about my family; all three of my books are available nationally at reputable bookstores! :) ), and there may be more books in the future (as long as my muse remains active, that is! LOL).
Well, Maria, I have bent your ear way too long now, so I will let you go. Do write when you can, and let me know as to how you are doing! I will most certainly be praying for you, and I will most certainly add your name to our prayer chain at my church (Christ Community Assembly of God)! All the best to you, Maria, and God be with you during this difficult time in your life!
Love, your new Cajun friend in Tennessee, Louisiana Mayrah Therese Sandusky. :)
Good to have a "catch-up" myself! You have so many interwoven characters that I can scarcely take in the dynamics of them all sometimes - certainly reminds me of the Nursery Rhyme, "There Was An Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe"... but, happily, all your wonderful parents seem to have an altogether happier frame of mind that that poor old lady! Good job, for the invaluable work that they do. 53 kids! I just can't get my head round it... and the work and the books... makes me feel faint! Better get back to bed quick! LOL - and a reminder, too, that these tropical storms are not a new phenomenon, although perhaps intensifying. Vivid memories here. Bless you and thank you. Kate xx
These song lyrics and art are tales, tides and twinkling lights - tunes telling stories of warmth and sun, city and sand, paths that lead, and the coins we can keep in the Karma Bank. Spirit's been bypassed for sorrow, dreaming of a better tomorrow .
Weds., September 28, 2005, 10:56 a.m., C.D.T.~
