I know it might sound weird, but one thing about being on the inside, we always made each other laugh. You have to keep your sense of humor, just like you had to have fun during that first Mardi Gras after Katrina. Tell a good joke, and don't feel weird about it.
That's something I learned about visiting prison, including Angola's death row: that it's okay to laugh and to have a good time while you there, knowing that your visit is often the best time of the month for the one you're visiting. It's entirely surreal, but Sr. Helen Prejean and I often leave death row saying "What a wonderful time!"
This brought tears to my eyes, Rosie. Thank you for speaking so eloquently about what I’m feeling.
Something that buoys me up is my niece, a public school teacher, who cares so deeply about her students and is afraid for them and their families, and who keeps going to school every day, trying to help them get through this. People like you and her are my heroes.
I couldn’t have had a better person with whom to go through the aftermath of Katrina, the COVID pandemic, or any other thing that life throws at me. We’ll get through this together, too.
A very Helen response! I think this is the first response about Katrina’s affect on your mental state I’ve read. At the time, it was all about solving the immediate disaster and juggling places to live. And the foul cleanup.
The viscissitudes of daily living in a devastated city certainly took up much of my focus. I think it wasn’t until three years after Katrina that I went a day without hearing or saying the word “Katrina”. The mental stuff stayed with me a good three or four years, too.
I know it might sound weird, but one thing about being on the inside, we always made each other laugh. You have to keep your sense of humor, just like you had to have fun during that first Mardi Gras after Katrina. Tell a good joke, and don't feel weird about it.
That's something I learned about visiting prison, including Angola's death row: that it's okay to laugh and to have a good time while you there, knowing that your visit is often the best time of the month for the one you're visiting. It's entirely surreal, but Sr. Helen Prejean and I often leave death row saying "What a wonderful time!"
This brought tears to my eyes, Rosie. Thank you for speaking so eloquently about what I’m feeling.
Something that buoys me up is my niece, a public school teacher, who cares so deeply about her students and is afraid for them and their families, and who keeps going to school every day, trying to help them get through this. People like you and her are my heroes.
Thank you, Lillie. We went through Katrina and its aftermath very well together.
I’m a huge fan of your niece and her work, and the work of all those public school teachers.
I couldn’t have had a better person with whom to go through the aftermath of Katrina, the COVID pandemic, or any other thing that life throws at me. We’ll get through this together, too.
A very Helen response! I think this is the first response about Katrina’s affect on your mental state I’ve read. At the time, it was all about solving the immediate disaster and juggling places to live. And the foul cleanup.
The viscissitudes of daily living in a devastated city certainly took up much of my focus. I think it wasn’t until three years after Katrina that I went a day without hearing or saying the word “Katrina”. The mental stuff stayed with me a good three or four years, too.
Your reflections--and this playlist--are what my soul needed today. Thank you!
I’m so glad they were well times for you, Bora. Thanks.
What a great analogy- Katrina and now. Thank you for sharing this uplifting idea. We will survive!
Thanks, Kelley.