I had not seen or spoken to her since 1970 until I called on 27 Aug. before Katrina's landfall. I am so relieved and thought this may be of interest. She had experienced BETSY and talked about that dreadful storm. She lived in Metarie or Buras in 1965. She has been on my mind every day since Katrina hit.

"We are all safe and scattered to the wind. Our home has minor damage, my Mother's house was destroyed, our businesses were severely damaged or destroyed. My son and two daughters () along with my sister and her family are in Houston. The girls have really stepped up to the plate. One daughter (), the electrical engineer) left for a consultant job in() . X may be moving to California to set up shop and enroll in nursing school. The two in Houston are looking for jobs. One will stay in Louisiana and help her Dad start over. I hope I have the stamina to do this one more time. I started exercising in anticipation. My husband is back in () camping in our home with a generator waiting for electricity. I may stay in Houston to enroll () in school. I know that good things come out of disasters. I see it already in my children. They grew up privileged and a bit over indulged and they are now scrambling to take control of their lives. Every day is a new challenge."