Houston, we understand

I stopped for lunch today, wanting to see, to know, to understand how bad it is in Houston. We here in NOLA want to know more than any other city in the country... Why? Because we understand.

Houston, we understand even better than you do right now, because we know what is ahead first hand. We know what you'll think, feel, get angry about, cry over, experience PTSD over (just wait until the next hurricane threatens.... PTSD will come up out of you when you think you're over it...).

You're trying to find food, ice, gas, wanting power back, wondering if you still have a job...will there be a home come next year...
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You know, you won't experience what we have. You have a POWERFUL congressional delegation, and the President comes from there and you are the right color in voting - red. And yes, even FEMA (don't get me started on how they have done some dumb stuff even with Hr. Gustov) has grown and is doing a better job. You'll come to regret having stayed... yep, you are there, but the supplies, the relief, the heat, the continued misery will get so old. The endless work and empty bank accounts will drain your heart...

THANK GOD the surge was half what they expected, you don't have the water still with you. Our cousins in SW LA are suffering too. Please don't mind if we can't love you back as well as you loved us after Katrina. We're still trying to get back our balance and our syncopated step. It'll still be a while, and to be honest, we're quite busy with our own suffering cousins who flooded out, and were hit hard as well.

BUT, we'll do what we can, give 'till it hurts, and try and show you the grace you showed us. We know, we're different. You can't imagine anywhere else to live but the great state of Texas. We are even more so inclined. To be honest, we know we're different. We'd NEVER want to live in Texas and honestly, being frank, we're glad you want to be there and not here. We're just plain different. We're not even sure we want to be the great state of anything; but quite fancy being the republic we once were is more appealing. :-) It's a French thing, you wouldn't understand. It's okay. We still like you - we have to.

So look, when you need a break, come over, play, relax, rest. Wear your jeans loose, you'll gain a couple of pounds with "slap yo mama" good eatin' and music that will move you from the inside. Share your stories of hurt with us. We have the energy to listen now. We get it. We know just having some one to listen makes the world of difference. And, we'll show you drive through Daiquiris stands... You won't think they're a bad idea after you've had one, especially after a hurricane. :-)

So, Houston, Galveston, SW LA - we're praying for you, we get it. We want you healthy again. It WILL get better: I promise.

Heck, now that even Texas took it on the nose, maybe our combined congressional influence, along with Florida, we can actually get some real change going; what you say we stop throwing our tax dollars to Swiss bank accounts via Iraq aid and use it here: real coastal restoration; real flood protection; real national disaster insurance?

Bless you Houston. When the TV crews are gone and you still walk out every morning to the mess - we've not forgotten. We really haven't.