AS I SEE IT...

Finally everyone accounted for...

My brother called last night, which in and of itself is usually not a big deal, but last night was very special. Since hurricane Katrina hit nobody had any idea if he was dead or alive, or where he was. Did he evacute? Was he hurt, and unable to contact anyone? I certainly had more questions than answers.

I was troubled and concerned, but I knew that if he could survive he would. My two younger brothers and I are surviors - we have always been survivors. So I waited, sometimes more patiently than other times, but still I waited. Since the storm, and subsequent flood I have spent uncounted hours dialing his phone number, and leaving voice messages. All I can say is a flood of relief washed over me when I heard his voice on the phone.

My brother, Gary, recently had a pace maker installed. (that thought just seems so strange) So none of us are as young and as healthy as we once were, and that just seems so wrong. We are not aging gracefully.

Just the night before I found a "searching for" message on msnbc.com posted by my cousin Nancy in Memphis, TN. I called her immediately and found out she had our youngest brother's, AJ (Arthur John), telephone number. Turns out AJ is staying with an long time family friend in Laplace, LA.

I am feeling as lucky, and as blessed as I have ever felt. Thank God my brothers are both well, and high and dry. And it turns out both of them were just as worried about me.