Saturday, August 30, 2008, Fairbanks, Alaska~

Dear Journal~

Hurricane worries once again.  Not for us, per se, here in Alaska, but for those living along the Gulf Coast. 

A dangerous, catagory 4 hurricane, Hurricane Gustav, is heading for southwestern Louisiana even as I write this down.  Right now it is poised to strike the western part of Cuba, and then it will emerge into the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Forecasters are predicting it will strike somewhere around Lake Charles, Louisiana.  On that track, N'Awlins will be on the northeastern side of the storm.  That means all the wind and rain will converge on an already battered city.  Who knows what will happen or how many lives will be lost?

Evacuations are currently underway:  while watching CNN, they showed long lines of people waiting for buses or cars to get them the hell out of the way.  At least they didn't wait until the last minute; they are making plans to evacuate, which is what they should have done when Katrina came. 

I know.  I was there.  I survived Katrina; because of her, my life as I knew it was changed forever, and I am still shellshocked as I recount the horrors that was Katrina.

Now it's like I'm livin' the nightmare all over again:  I remember the sounds of the winds howling, screaming outside my house, the waters rushing in, as the rains blasted down, then the horrors of the house falling apart around me before I mercifully blacked out.

I was found one week later, covered in mosquito and ant bites, severely dehydrated, barely alive.  My leg was crushed; had other external, internal injuries that took a long time to heal. 

The emotional wounds are still being dealt with. 

I don't talk about it much.  I moved to Alaska to get away from Hurricane Country.  Once was more than enough for me.

Frank has been especially supportive; he takes me out to get away from the news.  He knows I lost everything in that storm; he says I have everything now because he married me. 

And I do.  It's just the nightmares--

I just hope my friends down in Lou'siane get out this time.  I've e-mailed them, am waiting to hear from them. 

Enough about storms.  I'm all stormed out!

Aurora is sitting beside the computer, watching me type this down.  She is so cute, tilting her head this way and that, meowing softly at me.  Frank is out, getting supper; we're having Chinese tonight.  He should be back within the hour.

Heard from Louisiana; still have to write her back.  Heard that she's taken in a foster child, a little boy.  I don't personally know how she does it without going insane!  All those kids!  It takes a special person to raise more than one! 

I'm about ready to have one in a few months; I'm gettin' as big as an elephant, maybe two!  LOL  Can hardly get around without gasping for breath; have to wear oxygen when up.  Doesn't take much for me to get winded.  The doctor says baby is fine.  It's a boy, which tickles Frank to pieces.

You should see all the toys and stuff he's bought for his son.  He's been hard at work on the nursery, getting it all ready for Junior's arrival.  Yesterday he came into the house with the biggest, softest stuffed teddy bear I'd ever seen; I was like, "Frank!  Where are we gonna put that thing??"  Frank just laughed.

I mean, that bear is HUGE!! 

He put it in the crib; I had to tell him to take it out of there.  When he asked me why, I told him, "What if it falls on Junior?? It'll crush him!"  LOL  Sometimes men don't use their gol'durned heads!!

Whoops!  I hear the keys janglin' in the door; Frank's back with dinner.  I will let you go; until I write again, take care! 

~Love, Kat. :(