A Personal Note

• This collage of sorts describes how I'm feeling •

Perhaps, the anxieties of the last week have finally over come my usual optimism, but the afternoon has been rather depressing for me. I feel a little unsettled and unfocused as I begin to think about recent events in the world. I watched-listened to a program on PBS about the Yiddish music that dealt with deaths of innocent Jews at the hands of the Nazis. On the NY Times website I found and printed out 33 pages of the pictures of the first 1000 soldiers killed in Iraq. They are mostly young guys that could be my students. I've been reading the obits again. I suppose I'm asking for it.

Ivan's Aftermath

• I shot this rather telling photo near Pensacola on Friday •

The entire Florida panhandle is dealing with the anxiety and destruction caused by Ivan. Many prayers have been answered. Things have become more normal here in De Funiak Springs. Most people have had their power restored, though many have not. Percentages don't tell the real human story. We were really blessed in this place. The damage was slight in most instances. Pensacola, on the other hand is suffering extensive damage, both property and to the collective psyche, but that too is improving. The human spirit may flounder, but it will not be defeated. This storm has made most of us realize just how tenuious the control we have over our lives really is.

Pensacola News Journal - IVAN - Photo Galleries
NPR Radio Coverage of IVAN

Schools Closed for Ivan's Visit

Hurricane Ivan's 160+ MPH winds has everyone on the Gulf Coast a little nervous and tuned to their favorite radio or TV station. On Tuesday, the school system closed the schools for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The kids were reckless with joy. The adults were strangely quiet.

A Little Rain and A Little Wind.

And we are so thankful. After spending the last few days watching Frances waltz across Florida, we were pleased when she died away near St. Marks this afternoon. The only up side was that my son who was scheduled to fly back to California this morning, couldn't. The airlines closed everything. He will leave Wednesday. A few more days together. I suppose makes all the commotion worthwhile, thanks to the big lady.

I voted and saw a vision of America!

As I left the polling place (#7 in Argyle, FL) on Tuesday morning, I saw a stream of desert brown tanks and armored personal carriers go by on a train through the pine trees near the polling place. Along with the NBR's Republican Convention coverage coming from my radio, I was struck by the eerie juxposition of images and ideas. All I needed at that moment, was the clouds to spell out "KERRY IN 2004" to convince me. Are we safer or have we lost something under the sign of the "W"?