Like A Hurricane

 



Everything about the above poem speaks to me on a deeper level. It describes me and my nightly routine. The line that hurts the most is "Her mind is like a hurricane." That is truly me in a sentence. I have written extensively about the fact that I think a lot. I worry a lot. I over think everything. I cannot count the number of nights I've watched the clock and wondered "what if?" There have been too many sleepless nights spent in my head. I call it a character flaw. Today, a friend called it a character difference because flaw has a negative connotation to it. It's a part of me. It's My mind is like a hurricane, always moving quickly from one thought to the next. I can build up and tear down a scenario time and time again in my head. I always wonder what I could've done differently. It takes so much for me to turn off my thoughts. A hurricane is a perfect description of what occurs inside of my head. I've never heard it described as such but the person who said this to me was right. He's also one of the few people who know me the best. This poem makes me not want my head to be a hurricane anymore. I'd like it to be peaceful and calm and beautiful. That would be my idea of euphoria. Hurricanes have never been a great thing in my life. They come in fast and leave destruction in their wake. I am not that woman. I am more than my thoughts and my ever wondering, worrying mind. I'm just Kenda.



 

 

Get Into It: HBO's "Treme"

"Treme" is an HBO show based on New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina. It shows the personal struggles of families as they tried to rebuild. It looks into the political side of things as well as the law enforcement side of things. It touches on every story that needed to be told. It shows the way New Orleans rose from the ashes. Everything about this show makes me happy. It is a great representation of my city. The city that raised me, the city that fought back from a huge adversity. I knew that the team that was behind the stellar show "The Wire" would get it right. The producers got Baltimore spot on and they did the same with New Orleans. The characters feel real and authentic. The music is another pivotal character on "Treme."

"Treme" gets it so right. The feel of New Orleans, the people, the food, and the resilience translates through the screen. I love how authentic this show feels. I love how the producers portray all aspects of this city. From the cops to the lawyers to the politicians all the way to the normal people, New Orleans is fully represented. It is just a great show that I thoroughly enjoy. "Treme" is in the middle of its third season. It has gotten better and better. It will wrap after its shortened 4th season. I will be sad to see it go. but, am so thankful that it was shown. "Treme" makes this native New Orleanian uber proud of the city that birthed me. It is on HBO on Sunday nights @ 9pm. Get into it.

Big Easy, Big Apple

Watching the devastation that Hurricane Sandy caused has been heartbreaking. It hits too close to home. It reminds me of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I feel for the New Yorkers because I know what it feels like.I know the pain of not having electricity, not being able to go home, to seeing places that are no longer there. It hurts in a way nothing else has. If you have never lived through a natural disaster, you cannot truly get this. Hurricane Katrina showed me that people still have compassion for their fellow Americans. I met the best people who offered kind words, food and shelter and more. These people gave me hope. They helped me keep the faith. That is something that can not be measured. It is something that can only be felt in one's heart. I know that New Yorkers are experiencing that same feeling right now.

I follow a blog titled Nola Girl: With Love and she has started this Facebook page, From the Big Easy to the Big Apple, to show love from us to them. This is a wonderful idea. People in New York/New Jersey area need to know that we here in New Orleans are keeping them in our prayers. We know their pain, their struggle, their heartache. I love the sentiment behind this effort. There is a tumblr page dedicated to Sandy victims from Katrina victims. It's called SandyKatrina. There are pictures with words of encouragement from native NO Katrina survivors to Hurricane Sandy survivors. a kind word can take one a long way. I know this from experience. This is just something that warms my heart. It's a personal thing for me. I am still praying for everyone affected. So to all those in the affected areas of Sandy's wrath, it gets better. You rebuild and move on. It will be hard work but well worth it. Your lives were spared and this is the most important matter. Love from all the way down here in the Big Easy all the way to the Big Apple.

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

The last four days have been a page straight out of a book I loved as a kid. My life was exactly like the story of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Seriously. The title of the book describes the way I've felt for the last half of the week. I've tried to remain positive in my words and in my thoughts this week. I've succeeded in many ways. But, this heat was oppressive. It challenged my positive vibes on more than one day. This is just my short account of my life this week in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac.It has been an ordeal to say the least. I am not sorry that I stayed because I was in no immediate danger. It did not flood in my area at all. The aftermath was the bane of my existence.

The actual hurricane was bearable. It rained for over 24 hours straight. The winds were clocked at 80 mph. It was loud and dark and a little scary. But I was fine. I was safe, dry and unharmed so I was thankful. However, waking up to a hot house was not pleasant at all. My parish (known as counties to the rest of you) lost power about 6:30 am on Wednesday morning. The heat wasn't too bad that day due to the rain and wind of Isaac. The temperature was nice most of the day. Things began to take a turn for the worse on Thursday, August 30th. This was the day the temperature started to creep up. This was the second day without power. I was restless, hot and disgusted. Oh and this was the day the cold showers started. I was praying for Entergy to turn on the lights. They did not. I was not pleased. I did not complain because it wouldn't solve anything.

So, now we've made it to Friday. Friday was horrible. Just plain terrible. It was hot and humid. And, I still did not have power. The company sent a crew to begin work on restoring the power. They, of course, did not finish the job. Thus, ending in another hot night of restless sleep. My transitioning natural hair was not happy either. I've learned that too much exposure to heat and humidity makes for a sight on top of my head. It was poufy. I was frustrated and hot as hell. Saturday was the day that things changed. At exactly 3:32 pm, my power came back on. I have never in my life been so happy to hear the central air click on. I was ecstatic. It was finally over. I think I may sleep so long and comfortably. I need it. This has been a long week in which I've only slept between 4 -5 hours each night. It was too hot to sleep any longer than that.

As is the case with most hurricanes, the aftermath was the worst part. It was what I would not want to go through again. I just cannot take it. I am so glad that I made it through this ordeal. I know some lost their homes and cars. I feel sorry for them and I am praying for them. I am truly sorry about the few people who lost their lives. I know that others had it worse than me this week. I know I am blessed. Truly, divinely, thoroughly blessed. Thank God for favor. I am just glad that it is all over.

#30in30: On The Anniversary...

On the 7th anniversary of the horror that was Hurricane Katrina, I am living without electricity. Yeah, this is my exact life right now. I went to sleep about 2am on Wednesday, August 29th. Hurricane Isaac was wailing on my city. Drenching it in torrential rain and fierce winds. The wind felt like it was knocking at my door and windows. Isaac loudly announced his presence for hours before I fell asleep. It was cold and I was under my comforter nice and snug. And, then it happened. The 80 mph winds took out the power. I awoke to a less than cold space. 

I was not pleased. As you know, I'm a born and raised New Orleans girl. I've been through many hurricanes. Katrina being the worst thing I've ever lived through. Many will wonder why people stayed. Why we didn't leave. So, let me explain this to all of you. Isaac until Tuesday morning was just a Tropical Storm. No one hear bats their eyes at a Tropical Storm. No one. I remember the evacuation for Katrina. It took us almost 20 hours to get to Galveston, Texas. Which is usually a 5 hour trip. The traffic was horrendous. People were literally parked on the interstate & sitting on their cars. It was something I never want to experience again. Katrina was predicted as a Category 5. There was no way I was staying for that. 

But, a Category 1 hurricane doesn't scare me. As a child, I've slept through them. They're big storms. Lots of rain, lots of wind, but nothing to panic over. Louisiana natives know this. We don't usually flee for this. I stayed because Isaac wasn't a serious threat. Not to me. Yes, it's hot as hades since the electricity is out. Yes, the continuous rain is draining. Yes, these strong winds are annoying. But, I'm not in any danger. I'm safe. I know people will truly not get that. I just wasn't moved to leave for this one. I could have been wrong. I'm glad I wasn't. I prayed about it and gave it to God. There was no reason for me to worry or fret after that. Katrina when it was in the Gulf, it scared me. It terrified me. I knew on the Saturday before it hit, that it was going to be bad. I could never have guessed it would leave the destruction it did. I followed my gut with Katrina and I did the same with Isaac. 

I know people will never understand this if they aren't from here. I get that. We stay for the same reason that Californians stay even though they know there will be earthquakes, mud slides, and forest fires. We stay because this is home. This is what we know. It's who we are. As homesick as I was after being away from home after Katrina, I know that this is not the life I want for my future kids. I love New Orleans with all my heart. It's the city that raised me, loved me, and nurtured me. I know once I leave here, I won't be moving back here. My kids will know my city because I will always visit. I have to. My family is here. I'm thankful for Isaac not being a Katrina repeat. Everything else I can deal with. My prayers go out to all those who got hit harder than I did. 

Natural Disasters

Hurricanes. Tsunamis. Earthquakes. Floods. Tornadoes. Natural disasters seem to be in the rise. I do not believe that I've ever paid this much attention to such things. Hurricane Katrina opened my eyes to a lot. Before that, I thought I was untouchable. I never imagined that in a matter of minutes that everything that I knew and loved could be swept away by a hurricane or submerged under water. Mother Nature has been showing out lately. I, for one, do not believe that this trend is gonna let up anytime soon. Climate changes have been the leading cause of this changes. There is so much that we have done to the Earth and it seems as if we are paying for it now. Most natural disasters arrive without any warning. There is no time to prepare or leave. In a matter of minutes, life changes.



The tornadoes in the South have been devastating. The death toll is now at 318. There were at least 153 tornadoes. This has been the deadliest tornado outbreak since the Great Depression. That is amazing to me. I am so sad for the people who have lost their lives. I feel for the people who have lost their homes, belongings and livelihood. I know how distraught they must be. There is no feeling that compares to losing everything that you know and all that you have. It is so disheartening and there is so much despair. I am praying for the calm that has to be on its way. We need it.



Natural disasters are a blameless crime. There is no one to be angry at. There is no one to point the finger at. Its hard to pick up and rebuild. This is a trying time for anyone who has been affected by the tornadoes. After, Katrina, I cried a lot. that was the only thing i could do. I was hurting. My city was underwater. My people were unaccounted for. and, my life as I knew it was over. That is a lot for one person to deal with. It's tough to get the strength to get up and start over. From the earthquakes in Japan that lead to the tsunami to the earthquake in Haiti, the world is suffering from this. There were birds that dropped dead from the sky in January. It's almost Biblical. That is scary. Hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornadoes, oh my. Stay prayed up, people!