LETTERS I WROTE AFTER KATRINAA Story by Carol Cashes JLetters I wrote to our local newspaper that appeared in print. Just change Mississippi to Texas/Florida, every word still holds true January 26th,
2006
To the Editor, Sun Herald:
There have been many lists
of heroes generated by the assault and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but I
feel it’s important that this list be added:
To every woman whose last thought was
of her children, first hoping they would survive and then hoping that they
wouldn’t grieve “overmuch” as she went under water for the last time.
To every woman who lied the universal
lie (“I’m fine”) when asked if they were all right.
To every woman who cried when a single unbroken
cup or saucer from her grandmother’s china was found beneath a ton of debris.
To every mother who stood in long lines
in the hot
To every woman who learned how to use a
chain saw, start an old and contrary generator, who pushed a car three blocks
in a gas line, and who learned to make a picnic feast out of MRE’s.
To every woman in
To every woman who replaced her
Dillard’s credit card with an EBT card, and foraged through tons of clothing,
in the hot sun, for her children’s sizes, and whose heart secretly bled for the
teen-aged daughter who may not have a
Junior or Senior prom that would require the perfect dress or shoes.
To every woman who secretly fell just a
little bit in love with every man in uniform �" from the National Guard to the
Oregon Policeman, who came, not to
enforce martial law, but to rescue and assist, just like real Knights in
Shining Armor.
To every woman who came down here
because she knew in her heart that another woman needed her to come to this
place and bathe her child, cook a meal, scrub her walls, or hold her while she
cries the tears she hides.
To all of you and any I missed, God
will bless you.
Carol A. Cashes Woolmarket
To The Men Beside the Women of Katrina: For every man who is still shaken by his inability to keep
his family and home safe, never mind the size or scope of the assault. For every man who cried unashamed at the total destruction
to his home, his neighborhood, and his community. For every man whose heart cracked as he watched his wife
break her last manicured nail when she sifted or tried to remove the impossible
amount of debris in her world; and, in the next instant, never loved her more
as it swelled with pride when she mastered that old and cranky generator or wielded
the chainsaw like a seasoned lumberjack. For every man who hopes he never hears his wife cry as she
did in those first days and weeks, but, is also grateful to hear it as he
grieves with his neighbor who lost his wife and will never hear her cry again. For every man who is deeply ashamed to be dependent on his
adult children for even the basics of life �" food and shelter - never mind
their willingness or desire to help, because that’s just not the natural order
of things For every man who prays fervently to God every night to
provide the strength for just one more day; the “big picture” now being a
luxury of the past. For every man who is humbled by the number of people who
want only to help and will always wonder if he would have been as quick to
leave his home for weeks or months because another man - a fellow American -
was in trouble; but knowing now, without doubt, that he will when the time comes. For every man whose faith in God was tested and found, but
whose faith in his government is now irreparably shaken; taking away his underlying,
almost unconscious, sense of safety and security in this country in ways that
9/11 never did. For every man still here �" not giving up because his wife,
his children, his family, his friends, and his fellow Americans are with him
every step, every day. God will bless you, too, as he does all who learn and grow
from life's trials and tribulations and are stronger and better men for it. Carol A. Cashes Woolmarket
© 2017 Carol CashesAuthor's Note
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16 Reviews  Last Updated on September 8, 2017 Tags: Tributes to the Women and Men Wh Author
Carol CashesBiloxi, MSAboutI'm very cynical, jaded, just this side of bitter and the only reason I haven't crossed that line is a good man loves me. I am extremely empathetic, but seldom sympathetic. I can be a ferociously lo.. more..Writing
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