[StBernard] Insurance Safe?

[Westley Annis]

Bless you , GK for the kudos and words of endorsement. <G> Actually, while
it is true most of the people of the Council C section had to leave slabs
and oil behind (as I did), I admire those who braved the elements--who chose
to give it a go and to say the least, they are far braver than myself, as I
gave it a go for a year, then nearly died from heat exhaustion and the
elements at my age. 

There is a saying, "you can never go home again" and that in itself, is only
a half truth (especially those who couldn't make the effort through age,
jobs, health reasons or disappointment in the recovery effort.

Many had to face the death-elements of mold, oil, carcinogens in the mud (I
for example had termite poisons, weed kill killers, and just about any
poison that's on the shelf and before bans were placed on the chemicals.
Then came the oil from Murphy, and God knows what else I had to digest into
my lungs (ie. asbestos, mold, etc. which I have, even today, trouble
breathing and gunks of discharge and allergies, etc.

However, my tone is geared toward those who have remained and are getting
screwed as we speak, to those who want an effort of recovery but are slowed
by "promised financial recovery money"; to those who have no choice but to
try to rebuild their old, decimated cottages either waiting for help or
elsewhere because many have no help from family, friends now missing or
relatives who have moved far away and can't lend the hand.

Oh, if the situations were just different. If we would have foreseen where
we'd be, or could have had an opportunity to make subtle changes prior to
the storm, this hindsight might not be needed.

But, it did happen, now so many of us are on our own. Many would think
others would understand, but they haven't stepped in our white boots to feel
the gravity of where we are or feel.

I remember when the storm first happened, many of the leaders, homeowners,
and political figures were all saying, "There will be time to place the
blame" because many were playing "the blame game". Now that we're
approaching 4 yrs. perhaps it is time to figure out what went wrong and who
we must ventilate our blame towards?

Those who condemn me make me feel the heat of "solar-flares", the political
and social fallout is huge. Sure, I take the heat, but then, for those who
as you say, try to find words to express their torturous condition that
never seems to subside, I and others are on one side of the line and others
are challenged to cross it.

On my end, retired with less than $20,000 a year pension, it's very
difficult. Yet so many others are condemning me because the only safety net
I own is one of faith in my Maker to make ends meet. I'd venture to say that
over 50% are in that condition away from and in St. Bernard Parish. 

I humble myself and at times prostrate myself to seek ways that others can
overcome their grief. No matter where you now live, we're told to "knock it
off and move on".  I say carry the burden of disbelief for the rest of your
life because reminding us that we're but a sand in the desert to God's
immortal plan is what keeps our faith alive.

Those challenging us can't begin to understand, for if they did: God would
give THEM the words to say and not us. 

GK, when you spoke these few words, "expressing how so many feel but can't
quite get it in words!"

--you JUST DID SAY and EXPRESS EXACTLY how you feel. These parse words are
few but as powerful as I could get them out in these 20 paragraphs <G> I got
it. Hopefully, others will as well. Bless you and may the Lord accept your
sacrifices you had to give to make you such a good person, we're sure.

--jer--

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Jer, you are a "class act".  Thank You for your expressing how so many feel
but can't quite get it in words!

GK