from last night March 15, 2008
Our power just came back on; I couldn’t post this until now.
I’m watching footage of the aftermath of the tornado that went through Atlanta a couple hours ago – right through the middle of downtown, the CNN Center, Phillips Arena, Georgia Dome, Midtown, Cabbagetown.
There are tons of travelers in town for sports games and conventions, and all their hotels have been hit. They’re standing out in the street at one in the morning with reporters milling around informing all the viewers at home that “these people are just going to be out here all night!” but not offering any help….
I mean, is it just me, or would it make more sense, when we do have resources like electricity and television at our disposal, to be using them to organize efforts to alleviate this situation instead of yakking about it? Atlanta is a fairly unusual city in that we have a lot of freestanding homes inside the perimeter, most of which are large houses with a lot of extra space. Most of these residential areas are not more than 20 minutes from downtown by public transit. Please tell me somebody other than me sees the failure of logic when there are this many displaced people this close to this much empty indoor space.
It’s strange to see a completely unplanned situation unfolding, and to see the people who effectively create reality for most of this society try to create a strategy to organize and present it. The news reporters have become the witnesses; it’s more than just a blurring of the line, and I think that loss of distance, of objectivity, worries people more than anything.
I called my dad to make sure my family was okay and he was totally asleep… like, “Whu? Yeee-ah… nooo… oh-kayyyy…” It was kind of cute. I felt kind of bad, but you gotta do what you gotta do – even when we know that logically the people we care about couldn’t be anything but okay, we have to be able to do something concrete to reassure ourselves. Even if we know while we’re doing it that all it is is a gesture.
Today it’s hard for me to see the damage done to my city while I’m not there. I’m at Lance’s house and the TV has been on aaaaallllllllll day. It’s easy to watch “what happened to them“; I’m the only person here who sees Atlanta as an “us.”
is this what they call freedom? March 13, 2008
Dear God,
Please just let me make it the two days, three papers, and one test until Spring Break.
Love, Becky.
*
It’s strange how simple your needs get at times like this. When you’re satisfied with just staying above water, it’s so easy to relinquish control and cut the crap. Life is purified to its most essential elements around your work: eating enough to stay focused, sleeping anytime you can, showering when you start to nod off but can’t afford to. Realizing it’s not necessary to plan out next week or spend the whole afternoon with your significant other or make it to every club meeting. The stress level never stays far from the surface, but in your mind it seems so distant, seen through a filmy veil, like water, like coming into and out of sleep.
*
Breathe in. Breathe out. Rinse. Repeat. Get up and do it all again.
What’s necessary will come through. The rest will happen, or not happen, depending on forces you’ve ceased trying to control. If it doesn’t end up done when the dust settles, it wasn’t necessary in the first place.
va-jay-jay. March 10, 2008
I was in the Vagina Monologues, by the way.
It was fun.
I read way too quickly; I wish I could learn how not to do that.
scene March 7, 2008
Lance: *is in Becky’s room packing up to go to a meeting*
Becky: *type type type*
Lance *kiss*
*leaves*
*comes back*
Lance: You’re hard to get away from; I don’t know if you know that.
public service announcement, berry version March 6, 2008
TROLANDER HAS FACEBOOK!!!!!!
Bright spot in shitty week.
public service announcement March 5, 2008
Also: FYI. Bath & Body Works is giving out these gynormous tote bags with crazy-looking flowers on them for free when you buy anything there. No price minimum. I think it’s going on for like 2 or 3 more days. I got one today, but I’m kinda thinking about going back for more, ’cause it can hold my computer, power cord, binder, notebook, and about 4 books without even making the straining/ripping noise. Not bad for free.
