My car/myself

Five minutes to record this week in my life. My car -- why talk about my car? It's reflective of my life at this point. The wayback has a big trash bag full of metal cupholder things, left behind at our house by Adam. For some reason, he wants these things. I first moved the bag to a spot near the front door to wait for Adam, then, when the pest control people were called to come to nip a flea problem early, I had to clear the floor. (Actually, I think the pest control people thought they didn't even have to come, but I saw it as a preventive measure.) So, the bag came out to the car. Also in the wayback are clothes I have for Salvation Army. Also, several boxes of assorted Adam stuff, which I picked up from the floor in the room formerly-known-as-Adam's and which has now become a TV/family room again. At least now one can walk across the floor! But the stuff is in my car. Also, a little bookshelf which folds, and which has been sitting in our hallway since before Passover last April. I told Adam either he takes it or I will give it to someone at the HT or the Salvation Army. In the back seat, two bags of sweet potatoes, waiting for me to get up at 5 in the morning, when I will make maple mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese and saute some veggies for a pasta dish. Also in the back seat are several sections of last Sunday's New York Times, which, to no one's surprise, I have not read yet. Also in the back seat is a pile of Adam's clothes, which have come out of the dryer and are waiting for him to take them. Also in the back seat is Abby's math book, which she didn't need today, but she might have needed after school when I picked her up to come to the HT after school so that I could take her to her dance class at 5:15.

My desk is piled just about as badly as my car, and it has been so busy that I keep forgetting what I am doing -- in the middle of doing something.

I haven't thought of an "icebreaker" for the potluck dinner tomorrow night -- for which I am in charge. But, I think it will be just as good to circulate and talk to people....

I am exhausted, and nothing seems like much of a problem. Too tired to worry. Just take care of one thing at a time.

My car/myself.

Just common sense, I think

I've seen that MoveOn.org has a website, hurricanehousing.org, for people to offer and search for temporary housing. They recommend within 300 miles of the affected area.

And I've sent this letter to the NY Times, USA Today, and the papers in Atlanta, Montgomery, Jackson, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. I think it's just common sense.

To the editor:

Why on earth doesn't every hotel and/or apartment
complex in Louisana and surrounding states give a
couple of rooms to hurricane refugees for the
duration? Surely the businesses could deduct these
expenses as a charitable donation on their taxes and
they'd still be making a profit. Then people would
have privacy, telephones, a chance to start their
lives over again. Businesses in the area of each hotel
or apartment complex would, I'm sure, gladly help
those beginning over again with some donations of
clothes, supplies, even jobs. Children could go to
area schools.

Having thousands of people grouped together, as they
are doing in Houston, has to be maddening and
difficult, no matter how hard people are trying to
keep it organized.

Finding ways to give the survivors privacy, dignity
and a little tranquillity would be better.

Lynne Foster Shifriss
4420 N. Benton Court
Bloomington, IN 47408