2/27/2006
Lessons of Katrina
I was reading over the weekend about the lingering effects Hurricane Katrina has caused in New Orleans. A lot of people were rendered homeless that dark day. Some have since found refuge with friends and family; some have begun new lives elsewhere. Some have placed their trust in FEMA (they're probably better off trying to hit the lottery.) Some, I'm sure, have probably become New World Gypsies, moving from place to place as the mood, and the lure of work, strikes them.
All have one thing in common: they used to have homes. In the space of one day, they don't any longer.
My point is that this can happen to any of us, at any time. My downfall was lack of money (and a modicum of poor planning) that led to eviction. But homelessness can come just as quickly under other circumstances. A fire. A tornado. A prolonged illness. Bankruptcy. Layoff. Job outsourcing. Incompetent political leaders. A meteor. The list goes on. It is easier than you think to have a house fulll of stuff one day and be living on the street less than a day later.
Homelessness can come like lightning (or by lightning...) Be vigilant.
All have one thing in common: they used to have homes. In the space of one day, they don't any longer.
My point is that this can happen to any of us, at any time. My downfall was lack of money (and a modicum of poor planning) that led to eviction. But homelessness can come just as quickly under other circumstances. A fire. A tornado. A prolonged illness. Bankruptcy. Layoff. Job outsourcing. Incompetent political leaders. A meteor. The list goes on. It is easier than you think to have a house fulll of stuff one day and be living on the street less than a day later.
Homelessness can come like lightning (or by lightning...) Be vigilant.
# posted by Cybermancer @ 11:07 AM 
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Hey my brother. I saw the article on you in the News and Record. I just wanted to applaud you for your courage. Keep blogging. Your story is one that needs to be told.
Hi there,
I saw the article about you in the News and Record. Great blog. I wish you well and hope that things start going your way very soon.
You are a great writer, btw.
I saw the article about you in the News and Record. Great blog. I wish you well and hope that things start going your way very soon.
You are a great writer, btw.
# posted by 
: 9:47 PM
: 9:47 PM
Hello Cybermacer,
Allow me to give you some words of encourgement and a bit of advice from someone who was evicted, homeless and lived in their car for three months.
1) You will get through this ebb period.
I don't know when it will end for you but it will.
2) If you have any family or friends, ask for help. Don't let you're pride get in the way.
I could have reached out for help way before my father reached out for me. I denied a lot of help because of my pride.
3) The greatest lesson I learned was allowing people to give to me. Accepting help. I still struggle with it but it's much better.
I recorded my homeless experience too.
Here is an entry of my first day homeless.
2004-05-07 13:20:58 (GMT)
1st day Homeless
Last night, I left the office about 11:00pm. Went home, I
could see that my mattress and desk was out on the curb.
What a sight. So I went to Leon's afterwards to pacify
myself with a link sandwich. Then I fell asleep in the car
around Pill Hill. I only slept until 3am. I then went to
wash clothes at an all night laundry. After that I needed
shaving cream to shave myself and get ready for my listing
appointment today. By 6:30am, I was suited up. I got rested
again and it's now 8:00am. I was greeted by that bitch name
Angie waiting to get in the door. It's raining and cold
today.
BTW, I was a Realtor.
Allow me to give you some words of encourgement and a bit of advice from someone who was evicted, homeless and lived in their car for three months.
1) You will get through this ebb period.
I don't know when it will end for you but it will.
2) If you have any family or friends, ask for help. Don't let you're pride get in the way.
I could have reached out for help way before my father reached out for me. I denied a lot of help because of my pride.
3) The greatest lesson I learned was allowing people to give to me. Accepting help. I still struggle with it but it's much better.
I recorded my homeless experience too.
Here is an entry of my first day homeless.
2004-05-07 13:20:58 (GMT)
1st day Homeless
Last night, I left the office about 11:00pm. Went home, I
could see that my mattress and desk was out on the curb.
What a sight. So I went to Leon's afterwards to pacify
myself with a link sandwich. Then I fell asleep in the car
around Pill Hill. I only slept until 3am. I then went to
wash clothes at an all night laundry. After that I needed
shaving cream to shave myself and get ready for my listing
appointment today. By 6:30am, I was suited up. I got rested
again and it's now 8:00am. I was greeted by that bitch name
Angie waiting to get in the door. It's raining and cold
today.
BTW, I was a Realtor.
Keep blogging, it will help to keep the beast at bay.
I wish I could offer more than just my moral support. The sad fact is that there are a lot of us that are only a pay check or less away from sharing your fate.
Keep fighting the good fight. I think you are on the right path.
I wish I could offer more than just my moral support. The sad fact is that there are a lot of us that are only a pay check or less away from sharing your fate.
Keep fighting the good fight. I think you are on the right path.
most people dont understand how precarious they are to the brink. Me? I handle money well, but if its not coming in in adequate amounts it can put you in a bad place. Me? I had to make a decision on what was more useful, access to food, or housing with no food. I mean if you seen how I was living in 2004 and in 2005, man you d say whattahell?
I' am sickened by the treatment of those rendered homeless by Katrina. Some projections say that over 200,000 will remain homeless for the next 3-5 years!! What kind of crap is that? I blogged about it a few days ago, it's sick how the government wastes money on stupid things when there are so many people in need.
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