Donna's Interview

Wow.  great responses, Donna.  Thanks.

1. First and foremost, how are you and your family doing in the aftermath of Katrina? Do you have any thoughts about the experience, the media coverage, political reaction, etc?

I am from and my family remains about an hour north of New Orleans. The Sunday before Katrina hit, my family scuttled to where I live now in Northeast Louisiana. Me and four adult family members, a teenager, two toddlers and two chihuahuas stayed for two weeks in my one bedroom/one bath apartment. I am forever grateful that they were able to leave, that they had somewhere to go, that the house that I grew up in still stood and that they were able to eventually return painlessly. The only hardship that they had to endure was losing everything in some freezers and not being home for two weeks. My family is not known for being grateful. I have managed to block most of the whole thing out and things for me and my family have returned to pre-Katrina status. During their stay, my grandmother kept Fox News and CNN going 24 hours a day with running commentary of the commentary and I spent most of my time at work to get away from it. I got most of the news from blogs and personal websites with more insight and feeling than Geraldo. What I did see made me feel helpless and angry and sad.

I am sad to report that in my area of the state (North) and what I only assume other parts of the state is that things have returned to pre- Katrina status. Louisiana has always been very North Louisiana/South Louisiana, never the twain shall meet. Keep your problems down South and we'll keep our nose clean just fine up here, thanks. I am sad to say that there are people in my own state who do not understand why it is so important to rebuild and to do all we can to understand and keep this from happening again.

I am sad that it appears that what Katrina taught us has already been forgotten and not much is going on to make the necessary changes as far as coastal protection and levee maintenance. We have been written off by our own selves and what do you do then? I don't think Louisiana politicians did enough to get the serious attention of national leaders and I felt that there was a lot of he said/she said when we as a state and nation should have been coming together to get things done. As far as placing blame, I'm not interested. It has been a fact taught in elementary school what would happen if and, as I do in the national stage, I just want someone who will have a belief, a strategy, an idea and stick with it and carry it through. Stand up for my state and for what we believe in. I am still here because I believe in it. I still love it.

My brother, newly graduated!, is a journeyman electrician and has been working in downtown New Orleans, New Orleans East and the Ninth Ward. He says that in most areas, things still look the same as they did August 30, 2005. There are spots here and there where people have held on and rebuilt, but there are large areas that look to be just abandoned. That makes me sad. Tourist areas seem to be operating at pre-Katrina status so if one ever wanted to visit, do so now, please.

As much as I think that we have returned to a pre-Katrina mindset, I also want to remind and remember that the other side of my state was ripped away by a hurricane just three weeks after Katrina. Where there were small towns and fishing villages, there is nothing and it looks like it will remain nothing. I am just sad when I think about it.

Thank you for asking, Gail. It means a lot that we are still in others' minds. If you ever do decide to come visit, please let me know and I will be glad to be a first class tour guide.

2. What are your 3 favorite books and 3 favorite movies?

Books? Just three? Agony.

1) To Kill A Mockingbird 2) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay 3) Atchafalaya Houseboat - I highly recommend this one, Gail. I think you would definitely enjoy it.

Movies:

1) To Kill A Mockingbird 2) It Happened One Night 3) Casablanca

Two and three in both categories depend on what day it is.

3. If you heard someone described as a "good soul," what would you assume that meant?

Someone who brings out the best in other people. Someone who is selfless. Someone who understands the connections that every living thing has with one another. Someone who can listen and not judge. Someone who has empathy and understanding. Someone, that at the end of their life, you realize that every day was a lesson while you just thought you were having fun.

4. What is the most beautiful sight you've ever seen?

When my youngest nephew was born, the day that his parents brought him home from the hospital, I was able to visit. I stayed up all night holding him, spoiling him, letting his parents get some rest. He was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. So tiny and squirmy and expressive and perfect. I spent the night counting all ten fingers and toes, telling him that I would be proud of him no matter who he became and that I'd bail him out of jail if necessary. He stole my heart.

5. If you could invite any 5 people, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would you choose and why?

Richard Winters - a member of the greatest generation so I could shake his hand and tell him thanks and listen to all of his wonderful stories in person

Jesus Christ - so he could get the story straight

my great aunt that passed away when I was 14 - she was always a colorful character with lots of life and energy and I'd love to hear the conversation between her and Jesus. I miss her and I'd want to be sure she knew that I turned out okay.

Stephen King - one of my favorite storytellers, I just hope he wouldn't be too bored

my buddy Brian - I miss him very much and I'd want to know if it was everything he thought it would be and what the heck he's been doing with himself the last 11 years and to make sure that he knew that I was grateful.

A very selfish dinner party that lasted three days to be sure.

Comments

[Donna]

Thank you, Gail.

[DON]

You're as thoughtful and sensitive as ever, Donna.

[Donna]

Thank you very much, Don.