This is my beautiful friend Christina. The photo was taken approximately a year ago today during a wonderful weekend spent together at the "most magical place on earth" ... Disney World. In January of 2009 laughter was the order of the day. Laughter is not easy to come by in January of 2010 ... for you see, Christina is a native of Haiti. Port-Au-Prince, Haiti to be precise.
It has been four days since a 7.0-magnitude earthquake leveled her city in the most powerful natural disaster to hit the impoverished Caribbean nation in more than 200 years.
Thankfully, Christina and her immediate family were not harmed. Physically. Emotionally the toll is beyond measure. She awaits news of friends that have not been accounted for while wondering how to pick up the pieces of her life.
In Christina's words: "...from now on life will never be the same again, our city is destroyed, our schools are destroyed, our works are destroyed, as well as hospitals, hotels and all major government buildings. All to top UN staff is dead as many of our government officials. We are a sinking boat with no captain ! And it's very hard to see how we are going to start normal lives again."
Tonight Tom and I sat pouring over catalogs in an attempt to pick out fixtures for the bathroom we are remodeling. And then the irony dawned on me. Here we sit in the comfort of our cozy little home discussing the merits of various valves used to control the flow of water we will use to shampoo our hair while hundreds of thousands of people in Christina's land are desperate for even a single drop of water to quench their thirst. To simply keep them alive for another day.
Unemployment and a continuing economic downturn has hit many of us where we live. We are all counting our pennies these days. In Haiti 80% of the population survives on $2.00 a day. Kind of puts "hard times" into perspective doesn't it?
You can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts in #haiti." A few seconds of your time and a charge added to your next cell phone bill. $10 may seem like a drop in the bucket in the wake of such a massive need ... but the last time I checked the Red Cross site over 700,000 people had sent that text message. Please, won't you consider becoming one of them?
Oh Pattie. Your words are beautiful as is Christina. I cannot imagine the nightmare she is living. I too am having a hard time justifying the fixtures in my life.
I've donated. And will again.
Posted by: Katrina Kennedy | January 16, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Pattie, wonderful post. Christina and the people of Haiti have constantly been on my mind and in my prayers.
Posted by: Maureen | January 16, 2010 at 10:12 PM
My heart hurts for our friend and her country.
Posted by: Angie Wags | January 16, 2010 at 10:17 PM
Texting now!! So sad. Also the orphanages in Haiti need so much help. Contact www.holtinternational.com for donations.
Posted by: Rhonda | January 16, 2010 at 10:21 PM
My thoughts are contstantly with Christina, your words bring tears to me for our beautiful friend and her homeland.
Posted by: Shbmom4 | January 16, 2010 at 10:35 PM
It's really hard to make sense of it. Christina is in my heart every moment. I believe we can all make a difference together.
Posted by: Myra | January 17, 2010 at 12:35 AM
Pattie, you brought tears to my eyes. The irony hit me when I spent hours watching the coverage on CNN and then decided that I couldn't take anymore and turned it off. I sat there thinking of all the people who are living it and can't turn it off. So sad for them. I've donated and will again when I can. Thanks for posting this. Susie
Posted by: Susiecw | January 17, 2010 at 12:36 AM