Eight Feet Deep

A lot more visitors have clicked on to eight feet deep than normal because of Hurricane Katrina. For those seven or eight people who regularly read this blog (oh, well, yes I guess I am flattering myself, sorry), I think they know why I am in serious type mode for so long. That is because the people of the Gulf Coast, especially the Mississippi Gulf Coast, mean a lot to me. Also, as chaotic and rambunctious and downright dangerous that New Orleans normally is, it still has a special place in my heart.

I don’t know if I am doing any good for those who are seeking any kind of news they can find about what’s going on post-Katrina. But I hope their visit isn’t a total loss.

I did talk to my friend who lives in New Orleans last night. She was at her mom’s near Houston. She and her husband are fine. Their apartment and all their belongings are in the deep. But those are just things.

Unfortunately, I found I had lost the cell number for my longtime friends Dave and Betti Martin who reside in the 2300 block of 30th Street in Gulfport, Mississippi. Hopefully, they are staying in their “tipi” up the country from there. I know they aren’t “Internet” people, but if by some strange chance anyone who knows them sees this and can shine a light on things, send me an e-mail at the address just above the Saline Soldier.

The Atlanta Falcons Warrick Dunn tries to take out Osama bin Laden during an April 2005 visit to Afghanistan

Just to reinforce that all is not bad in the world, even with professional athletes, we get word that Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn has challenged his fellow NFL players to each donate $5,000 to relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. He asked that each player from each NFL team do that, except for those from the New Orleans Saints.

“I’m challenging guys on every NFL team, except the Saints, to donate at least $5,000 to help people come back from this catastrophe,” Dunn told SI.com. “If we get players to do that, that would amount to $260,000 per team. I have heard from so many players both on my team and around the league who just want to do something. Well, this is the best thing that we can do and it’s something we should do.”

If, and it’s a big if, Baton Rouge native Dunn shames his fellow NFL players into ponying up, the players could raise some $8.2 million. I say big if, not really so much because of the players themselves but because of agents and everyone else who have their hooks into them. Dunn told the Sports Illustrated online site that he still does not know if his grandfather, who lived in New Orleans, “is dead, alive, at the Superdome, or on a bus somewhere.” I don’t know the details, so I will not judge.

On a side note, I worked as a newspaper reporter for almost 20 years and will likely be doing so occasionally on a freelance basis for some time to come. A reporter who is really into what it is they do craves the big story. It’s just part of their being. It’s not trying to sell more papers. It’s not trying to promote a political or personal agenda. Most could give a rat’s ass about such matters. Going after a big story is a thrill to behold. Plus you can get pretty caught up in what is black and white, you know, what is right? And it’s not a bad thing. With that said, I’ve seen a lot in my years and covered some pretty interesting stories. I can honestly say that I am glad I don’t have to witness what’s happening down in NOLA and the Mississippi Gulf Coast first hand right now. I’ve seen more bad stuff than many and probably not as much as some others. Like James Taylor said: “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain.” But I’ve never seen the likes of what’s happening down there in the Katrina aftermath and neither do I want to. It’s going to be hard enough for me doing freelance work associated with this tragedy from the fringes.

Well, I don’t know if I’d call it a Sally Field Oscar moment, but apparently some of the members in our world community have offered to help us with our disaster down South.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said today these nations have offered assistance with the hurricane recovery effort:

“Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, the Organization of American States, Jamaica, NATO, Australia, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”

Venezuela, whose leader evangelist Pat Robertson wants assassinated (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), has even offered us oil. Apparently, Saudi Arabia, our great Middle Eastern ally who has more oil than you can shake a drilling stem at, has not offered us oil. Nor has Kuwait (remember the time they were invaded by Iraq and we went to war?) I don’t know if Iraq will give us oil or whether they are in a position to do so. Meaning, I don’t know if we can just take it from them since we really are occupying their nation right now.

But yes, it seems like we need food, water, ice, beds, some Gatorade, lots of oil and about half of our National Guard back stateside right now. Oh well, Honduras and Jamaica will watch our backs.

As if the world isn’t continuing to go to hell rather quickly in New Orleans, this article tells that legendary R & B star Fats Domino is missing in the floodwaters.

He had long been a star with songs like “Blueberry Hill” and “I’m Walking” when I heard him play at the Texas Pelican Club in Vinton, La., back in the mid-1970s. But it was a thrill to hear him bang that piano and to sing, nonetheless. There was always just something so unique about the man and his music. I hope he is safe.

My friend Bruce in North Texas says what’s on his mind about Katrina in our comments blog.