Take Me Home

I missed a call while I was sleeping last night. The message went something like this, “Miss Sarah Jean Sullivan, this is ADT calling to inform you that your alarm system has been set off and we will be notifying the police, please give us a call back as soon as you can.” Knowing that Courtney was in the other room, Lizzy was in Tampa Bay, Mary Ellen (who just finished her summer sublet) was in Seattle, and Wilhelmina in Austin, my first reaction was panic. I called ADT back and then couldn’t given me much information just that the front door alarm as well as the motion sensor had both been set off at 6:50 this morning and that they had notified the police department. I asked what happened when the police came and the man told me that he actually didn’t even know if they went over to our house. Once they report it, it is up to the police department’s discretion whether they respond or not. So we call the NOPD and they tell us there is no way they can check for the status of the response because all their computers are down. Of course Courtney and I automatically imagine our house getting robbed for a second time. After a few more panic-filled calls we finally got a hold of our landlord who in fact was the man who broke into our house and he somehow didn’t have the code to the alarm system! I am so thankful that it was him and our house is safe. He let us know that our house is in good shape, no outside damage, but unfortunately we still don’t have power. No word on when it will come back on, so it looks like we wont be heading back home just yet.

I am ready to be back. I am ready to get things back in order. I cannot believe people live with the possibility of this happening several times every hurricane season. We got lucky this time, but many other cities are suffering in bad ways. Let us remember them and help in anyway we can.


"Rolling down the road
Going no where
Guitar packed in the trunk
Somewhere round mile marker 112
Papa started hummin the funk
I gotta jones in my bones before we know
We were singing this melody
Stop the car pulled out the guitar
Halfway to New Orleans

Said take me home
Take me home"

-Mark Broussard
"Home"

No more NEWS

Yesterday I got a call from one of my student's parents. She knew I had never evacuated for a storm and wanted to make sure I was out of the city, safe, and had a place to stay. It was so meaningful to me. I have been so worried about my students and their families. I have only had her son in my class for 2 weeks and only have had 2 or 3 converstations with her. What a wonderful and caring woman - a act of kindness that I will not forget.

Overall, I can't watch anymore. Thankfully Gustav is slowing down and things are not looking too bad on land, but Courtney and I have seen enough. Even with the good news it still works me up. We still have a few hours to go - praying that the levees are strong enough for the final surge.

Good Morning Fate.

Here we go. So far not too bad.

Building Strength

I have felt so many emotions in the past four days. It is so hard to explain all that has gone on and the emotions that have come with it. I am praying to God that after tomorrow all my life will go back to “normal” but unfortunately no one really knows. Late Thursday night and early Friday morning my housemates and I packed up our important documents, notes/cards/pictures and other mementos and a suitcase full of clothes. We gathered food, filled up an extra gas can, cleaned out our refrigerator, took everything off our porch, and closed all of our blinds. We all had to work on Friday so we packed up the cars and headed to school. Courtney dropped me off because I chose to leave my car – it is parked in the drive beside our houses because that seemed like the highest ground. The whole day my mind was on one thing Hurricane Gustav and wondering how bad could it be. My students asked me a lot about it, and about Katrina. They have so many confused thoughts – most of them do not understand. Many of them think it is a woman and that she may come back. It is hard to explain that she is gone and will not come back, but we never know what will happen when another Hurricane hits. My kids are so young that many of their first memories are from the tragedies that followed the hurricane. While most of my students watched a movie at the end of the day a few helped me to secure my classroom as best as I could - moving all furniture away from the windows, turning bookshelves towards the walls, and covering all the computers and other technology with plastic. Will it be enough? Will our portable building be able to withstand hurricane force winds? Will it stay in place with 10 + inches of rain that may come? You try to think positively and be optimistic, but it is only natural to question what life will be like if all of this is totally swept away. After school I had a few minutes to gather important things from my classroom and say my “be safe’s” to the other staff at my school. A wonderful woman named Ms. Wiltz, who also teaches third grade, has become very motherly to me over the past year. She has been a mentor for me as a teacher and a supporter for me as I have transitioned into a new culture. Through it all I have never once felt judged by her, as I often do from other staff members at my school. She gave me her final advice for evacuation and her very optimistic thoughts and a great mom hug. I broke down and wept in her loving arms – I cried for the community and all the people who have gone through this before and I cried for my students who are so scared and confused and I cried because if by the slight chance it hits us hard, New Orleans may not be able rebuild this time around.

And ironically on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we began our evacuation. Courtney and I had an uneventful drive to Pensacola, happy to beat the traffic and be east of the predicted path. We stayed at our friend Dan’s place. He was a wonderful guest and helped us to keep our minds off of the storm with some great food, good conversation and some live music. Saturday morning we got up and traveled farther east to Fort Walton Beach and that is where we are now. We are staying with Courtney’s aunt, uncle and two little cousins. Today we went to Destin, had lunch, walked on the beach and did a little shopping. There was one rain storm caused by an outer band of Gustav, but it didn’t last long. While we were out we ran into two friends who had also evacuated. We have watched the news a lot. Trying to take in important updates, but not make ourselves too nervous. Gustav is quickly approaching thought to make landfall Monday morning. It is currently a category 3 hurricane with winds up to 115 miles and hour. And again…we just wait….and keep praying.

Gustav

A hurricane is heading our way. We don't know exactly where it will end up, but it is very likely to head straight up the Gulf of Mexico. Yesterday and today it was in Haiti and it is heading towards the west side of Cuba currently. Some people are very worried, others not so much. I just don't know what to think or to do. Make an evacuation plan, prepare for the worst, and pray - that is all I have come up with so far. I went to Wal-Mart today and got a case of water, gatorade, and canned food. I heard school may be canceled on Friday and a mandatory evacuation could be in announced as early as tomorrow evening. It is hard to just wait, I found my mind wondering a lot while I was teaching. A few of my kids asked me about it, but I tried not to get them all worked up. I mean, no one really knows what is to come. Here is a map of the path it has drawn and what is projected. Keep NOLA in your thoughts...I am not sure if it can weather another big one.

Here we go again...

Tomorrow we kick off year two. I am so excited and blown away that this day is here already. I don't have time to say much because I still have things to do tonight. But I am feeling optimistic and ready to take on the challenge. Summer really did a lot for me. It was wonderful to see all family and friends that I was blessed to spend time with and travel all around the country. What an adventure I had. And now I am back to the grind looking forward to doing my little part in this broken city.

Peace to you.

today on the playground...

...I got on the see-saw with one of my students and got stuck up in the air.