Saturday, August 30, 2008

A Strong Wind is Blowing

Not this again.

Things were just starting to look up, we were getting closer and closer to normal. And then a bastard named Gustav decided to visit.

Sigh.

I'm making evacuation plans for my family, figuring out where I'm going to bunker down so I can do my job after the storm hits, and generally dreading repeating this whole experience. Yeah, I said repeating because I was in the New Orleans area when that heifer Katrina showed her behind, and I remember what things were like.

Utter chaos.

Not just the chaos you saw on tv, (they sure do love some black folks carrying televisions) I'm talking about the chaos at my job and the chaos in my personal life. Sleeping in strange beds, struggling to find an outlet for the stories I thought were important, just random chaos.

See, for better or worse, I'm a creature of routine. I like to know what's going to happen, prepare for it and then move on. I don't like frenetic activity. I abhor excessive anticipation. It just doesn't sit well with me.

This whole hurricane ordeal is a combination of chaos and anticipation and it's starting to get to me. I just feel tired and I don't want to deal with it.

Plus, I know that after the storm hits, I'll be working crazy hours trying to find interesting stories and talking to people who have just had their lives destroyed. It'll be very similar to going to a murder scene except I'll have to talk to more people and intrude on more moments of sorrow. I'm sure I'll do some good and tell some stories that need to be told, but I'll also feel like crap for profiting from other people's pain.

Windy days ahead.

9 comments:

Truthiz said...

My prayers are with you, your family and all the people of New Orleans.

My ex, a native Louisianan, resides in Baton Rouge. We're still very good friends and I admit I do worry whenever I see_and/or hear_news that a Hurricane is heading that way.

Take good care Big Man!

Anonymous said...

Please take care Big Man.
As for your job, I don't know if it helps, but it's an important thing to bear witness to events - to show by your existence (and your reporting) that something is true.

Anonymous said...

Get out of there Big Man, Godspeed.

Anonymous said...

I'll see you in the funny papers, Big Man. I'll be covering the story as well. I agree with you regarding the anxiety of these last few days. My wife and kid are now gone, the house is empty and I'm just waiting...
Stay safe.

Anonymous said...

All I can say is: God bless you and yours, man.

Anonymous said...

good luck Big man... stay safe...

Anonymous said...

Stay safe.

Big Man said...

Thanks for the concern y'all. We're getting close to the time. Things are hectic here.

Anonymous said...

Big man,

God be with you and your fam. And eveyone in New Orleans.




Raving Black Lunatic