Every single thing I did today, I felt the presence of other Americans

[Lex]

who are suffering horribly just a few states away.

Every meal I ate, taking a hot shower, drinking something cold . . . EVERYTHING. I guess I even felt guilty, somehow. Maybe not exactly guilty, but something like that . . .

And rightfully so--we should all remember we are only one bad natural disaster away from those suffering on the Gulf. Even those who evacuated are in a bad way.

All I've been able to do so far is donate money, and I will again tomorrow.

[tridim]

1. I heard some zydeco music this morning and teared up

Usually it makes me smile and dance around like a crazy fool. So sad.

[uppityperson]

2. Me too

[kentuck]

3. I think "empathetic" may be the word?

I don't think it's necessarily guilt?

[Lex]

4. Yes, thank you.

That's the word.

[Mira]

5. you're describing what I am feeling all the time,

You just left out the disturbed sleep, when I feel guilt over my comfort in my nice bed.
We're all hurting.Just expressing it in different ways. I battled the freepers all day long on a board dedicated to my profession, and I was flamed and hurt. Yet I thought of Cindy and what watching her taught me about staying on message, and I persevered.

My issue was two fold:
It was not necessary to be such a horrible disaster.
With FEMA's recommendations not followed, and the cuts in the budget for the levees, and no help for the poor who wanted to evacuate everything to make it godawful was in place, and sure enough it happened.

And now we don't properly and quickly move on what is needed, and the whole thing is like watching a third world nation operate. No wonder the people feel abandoned and take the law and their survival in their own hands.

I am so sad.

I was going to NOLA in 28 days for a convention, on the train.
I sent the tickets back in tears.
It will be fornever that the city is really back as it was.

[MadeinOhio]

6. Freepers are falling apart down at the seams here...

All those young freepers and suckers (yes, suckered minds) are falling apart in the pools of their own spit and vomit it seems.