I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MISS NEW ORLEANS

Yes, I sure do know. I will be leaving on Thursday to visit New Orleans for the 10th time. I am in love with the city and all her people. I have shed many tears since August 29th of last year. I have watched attentively through the hurricane, through the flood, through the anti-help which is still happening. I really believe that most of America is unaware of what is NOT happening in New Orleans. It is hard for me to believe that if this tragedy had happened in Florida or in Manhattan or in Beverly Hills, that the response would be the same. Or should I say the lack of response. Anyone wishing to know the real story, please visit NOLA.com which is the website of The Times-Picayune, the local newspaper. And while you are at that website, please read a few of Chris Rose's columns which you can find under "Living". Quite eye-opening for those of you who believe that all is being taken care of. I am sooooooo tired of hearing that the 'footprint' of New Orleans will be smaller. Or of hearing "Well, they had a chance to get out and they ignored the warnings"(most of the dead were senior citizens). Or "The French Quarter came through unscathed"(oh really.). Or they won't have Mardi Gras this year. (Right. Thats like telling someone they won't have Christmas). Don't get me started. Just stick with NOLA.com and Chris Rose and find out the truth of it. I am going to New Orleans on Thursday, knowing that everything has changed forever. With hopes that good decisions will be made in the near future to get back as much of the heart of the city and ALL of her people as soon as possible. Do you know that New Orleans was once a city of about a half million and is now a city of under 100,000? Do you know that tourism provides the life blood of New Orleans? But that right now, nearly half of her hotels are still closed? And the hotels that are open, are being used to house clean-up workers and displaced families. Which I'm not saying that is a bad thing. I am just trying to point out the jam that the city is really in. I will go with the promises that I have made to myself......I promise be full of hugs and love when I'm out and about.....if I cry, it will be in my hotel room. I promise to be a good listener. But most of all, I promise that I will always love New Orleans, forever. Because I get it.