090405 what a day...

The weather was mild and sunny, today, but the human condition is incredibly depressing. The death toll, as we all knew it would, continues to rise. People are still trapped in their attics. Riots and other civil arrest are on the increase. There are areas of devastation that we are ony now discovering.

Continuing conversation here in Houston ranges from heart wrenching compassion to worries of disease, crime, personal safety and property tax implications. That said, I don't know anyone who hasn't generously donated to the various relief funds. Volunteers are being turned away at this point, because there are simply too many at the moment. Those conditions will change in the coming months, I'm sure.

And it was an awful newsday:

1. Chief Justice Rehnquist passed away over night.
2. Police shot and killed at least five people today after eight gunmen opened fire on a group of contractors with police escorts, while traveling across a bridge on their way to make repairs.
3. A civilian helicopter crashed today in New Orleans, slightly injuring two people.
4. The disaster has even made the homepage of Aljazeera. Their coverage includes an article entitled "Friends and foes offer US Katrina help".

I had to get away for a while, so I drove down to the coast and went to lunch with a friend of mine. Katrina and her aftermath dominated our conversations. It could very easily be us one day. It was good, still, to get away from the television and radio... and to feel the warmth of our long-lasting (and eternal) friendship.