Inflatable Sheep

Words just can't express how appalled I am at the suffering of the people in Mississippi and Louisiana. I feel so helpless, and can do nothing but donate money to Red Cross.

I watch the tragic scene in New Orleans via photos from the Times-Picayune. I read the frequent updates of the situation from WWLTV. I read Weather.com's blog.

Tears come at odd moments. I just feel so sorry for all those people affected. When Katrina was set to hit New Orleans, John and I slept on an air mattress in the living room so that I could follow the hurricane's progress all night. Monday morning I felt some relief for New Orleans in that it seemed to miss the worst of it.

The past few days it's been like watching a horrific accident from afar, this distintegration of a city. The looting and shooting at rescue and utility workers, when everyone should be helping. I can't even begin to cope with the state of mind mothers and fathers and children who are caught in this terrifying ordeal. The dead bodies at the Superdome, the elderly, the weak, the children, the people who need medical attention…I just can't stand it.

My heart breaks for these people. All I can do is pray several times a day for God to give them the courage, the strength to somehow hang on. And please, please, please, let the suffering ease.