i am more annoyed than nervous. on the contrary, my friend had a nervous breakdown upon hearing the news of hurricane gustav heading towards the gulf of mexico. she is from new orleans and evacuated for katrina; august 2005 i was from chicago and was hitchhiking south to georgia, care-free. now i’m annoyed that i have to pack up valuables, move tools, vehicles, and trailers to high ground.

today, i told my significant other that if she wasn’t here and planning to evacuate, i would stay in new orleans if gustav hit. i’d help others evacuate or find shelter. i’d camp out on the third floor of my friends’ warehouse. but her, like my other friend who had the nervous breakdown, is from new orleans and also suffered the disaster and displacement caused by katrina. they have good reason not to mess with storms. but me, i don’t know what’s coming–i just know the stories and the aftermath. the help that is needed. the importance of immediate relief.

let’s hope this is all just a false alarm.