Maria Jones, Louisiana's friend in Mississippi, writes back.
Tuesday, November 1, 2005 (have to remember it's a new month!! *giggle*), 11:05 a.m., C.S.T. (have to remember the time has gone back to the regular time, too! *more giggles*)~
Hey, Louie!
Thanks so much for your delightful letter; I really enjoyed the escapades in your life! You have such a happy, exciting life! It's a wonder how you can find time to work, write letters to your many legions of friends, take care of a village LOL AND a house, and write books!! You must be related to SUPERWOMAN or something! *Giggle*
The power has FINALLY come back here to Biloxi, but I am still at this stupid shelter. I may just come up there and stay; I am getting sick and tired of being ignored by the local government officials. I guess it must be because I am black, I don't know; but ever since I have signed up for help, it seems that all I have gotten is the runaround...I am STILL waiting for my FEMA card! (Must'a got lost in the mail or something; but I am going to have to try again! ARRRRGGGHHH!!!) OTHER than that, I am fine, but I don't know HOW in the world I am going to get up there to Tennessee!! I don't have the money right now!! I would give ANYTHING to get away from this hell!!! Please keep me in your prayers!!
And people have been treating me shabby. When they find out that I was a hurricane Katrina survivor, they give me dirty looks, and they say things like "O, all you been doing is whinin', complainin', and so on, and we are SICK of it!!", or "I am so sick of hearing about hurricane victims; I wish you done DIED in that storm, so I won't have to listen to you!" Isn't that terrible?? I have been doing nothing but crying my eyes out! I wasn't the one who caused the damned thing to come in the first place; it was just an act of nature, and we just happened to be in the way!! Now I am still nursin' my bum arm, and I still have that stupid thing in it! Looks NASTY! I will be getting it taken off in a week or so, but until then, I look at it, and I CRINGE. OW! But other than my arm and my hip, I am doing (somewhat) better!
I wish I could come RIGHT NOW, but as I said, I am waiting for my FEMA money, and I am trying to get what is left of my life back in order. I had some of the relief workers come help with the yard, and it looks SOMEWHAT better, but it will be a very long time before it looks like it did prior to that g.d.'ed hurricane!! I will be soooooo glad when this hurricane season is over; it has been REDICULOUS!!!!
WHOOPSIE! The mail has come; maybe they have my FEMA card! I sure hope to GOD they do!! I will then be on the next bus to Nashville if it has!! So don't be surprised to see me on your porch come next week!! (Or maybe even SOONER than that! I am so sick of the shelter I could just SPIT!!!)
(((HUGS))) and much love, your Mississippi (MissisSLOPPY) friend, Maria Jones. :( (TRYING to smile despite the pain and sadness...)
The butterfly picture is so befitting for this letter. From the cocoon to caterpillar to butterfly, it is a metaphor for the metamorphosis from the damage from Katrina. The states will be back to their original prisitine beauty with the help of the many organizations replanting it all. Thanks for today's letter, Karen Lynn.
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 .
