Digitopus

This week I spoke with an accquaintance who had recently made his first post-Katrina trip down to New Orleans. He's a New-Orleans-at-heart kinda guy, like myself.

"The Quarter looks okay," he said. "You almost don't know anything happened. But once you step past that...the devastation is horrible."

"I haven't been back yet," I answered, quietly. "I'm still not ready."

"Don't," he said, his voice sorrowful. "Don't go see it. It will break your heart."

There's no doubting that. Pictures of my ravaged city and her surrounding areas still bring tears to my eyes. I still can't bear to think of the numerous places that held special memories for me completely washed away forever from Biloxi; I haven't been able to visit there, either.

I don't know when I'll be ready to set my own eyes on the aftermath of Katrina...maybe I never will be. Perhaps I just need to do it and begin to move on.

New Orleans, her culture and her people, still need help. Perhaps if you have a few extra dollars this, or next, month you might could contribute to a worthy NOLA cause? Here are just a few of my favorites:

New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief

Rebuild New Orleans Public Library

New Orleans Museum of Art

She calls to me, and I feel I must go to her soon. I only hope I am strong enough to see her so broken.