The Fog of Disaster

I was wrong. Thank all gods & goddesses I was wrong. I wasn't intentionally wrong; I just took for gospel truth information I had received from a reliable source, but it turns out it wasn't true. Boy/girl/mens&womens is I ever glad . . .

The Mutur NP House/Office is totally completely entact, as are the two four-legged inhabitants, Juma, the love cat, and Punchi, the mischeivious, green-eyed canine-being, who of late has taken to running out the compound into the scary big world where other dogs snarl and snap at her whenever the gate is open. So, this means that I have backup of 95% of MeMacMojo (MeMacMojo is dead; long live MeMacMojo), and as I keyboard the Mini-iPod is being recharged. All is well. And the fan feels so good, and the Deva Premal music sounds so good, and the light in the quiet, late dark of night is so comforting after the past several days with no power -- hey, yesterday the Electric Board estimated it would be 20-30 days before power was restored, but, holla, we got it back about 9:30 p.m. this evening.

The seaside of Mutur town is obliterated, but most of the town itself along with the NP House/Office is unscathed. Most families, I've spoken to, however, have suffered some loss. Our landlord lost a daughter, an aunt and several other relations who were traveling on a train to Galle for a wedding. Another friend I spoke with tonight lost his parents and twelve other extended members of his family. The loss at times seems overwhelming; yet we find a way not only to survive, but to thrive. The outpouring of members of the community to each other, which crosses ethnic and religious lines is wonderfully inspiring, even inspiriting, as I just mis-keyboarded. Relief supplies and volunteer assistance are literally pouring in with much more positive force than the destructive impact of the Tusamni. The big wave did it's destructive work in less than a minute; the reconstructive work, rebuilding the devastated community, will last lifetimes, as people find in tragedy new ways of learning to live and work cooperatively together. At least that is my belief as to what positively can come from this horrible event.

Many of my dear family, friends and associates, a good number, whom I feel so blessed to have sent me well wishes here, will be amazed that I am not totally devasted by the loss of MeMacMojo. Now, this indeed is a crisis, but I handle crises quite well. It's those darned broken shoe strings that are a real hassle. This momemt, the only breath there is, I feel extraordinarily graced that I have survived one of my worst nightmare fears, the loss of MeMacMojo, but in the midst of such devastation, the loss of a computer, even one euphimistically I used to say that is my life, pales in comparison. My LIFE is more important than my virtual life, even all those words I endlessly spun. As we said, 37 years ago in Vietnam, "Don't mean nuttin'" and as Pema Chodron says, "Remember, it's no big deal." Hey, I needed a new machine anyway, and one way or the other, when it's right, a new one shall manifest itself out of the magnanimous beneficence of the Kosmos. In the meanwhile, I am blessed to have a very nice PC desktop to play with, teaching myself some new trick ponies to navigate that part of the Computerverse that comprises 95% market share, no matter how inferior it may be. . . ;) Enough.

Very tired. Long hard day today, and another one in the offering tomorrow, when I will be traveling down to the same remote area in Echalampattu where last week I worked with the floods. Time to get to sleep to dream of the angels, and I wish for each of you the same.

Comments

[David Grant]

Hey Thomas, Just ... THANKS, man. And congratulations, too!
Odd wishes from me to you???
No.
Thanks for being in-spirited in the situation. That in-spires (from inspirare=breathing-in) me. Thanks.
And congratulations for letting that 'country' steal from you yet again and again and again til you got nothin left and you could be howling. You could be howling. But there you are, serene and empty. Congratulations, dude.
Your bro'
D

[Jim Benoit]

Thomas, I am so glad to hear that you are safe. I was so concerned after hearing of the tsunami hitting there as hard as it had. My heart pours out to you and all of the people there. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Stay well my friend.

[Joe Bonelli]

Thomas, thank God you are okay. Your chronicle is awe-inspiring! Contact me ilovenola2@yahoo.com asap. Ms. Pub Radio news would probably like to talk to you. You could spread some important news to the isolated here. God bless you and I hope to see you soon. And may God also bless the tragic people of that area. Your words in the blog are hopeful and that's the best I've heard since the disaster. Take care. Joe PS-- Am getting folks from movie poster collectors group to contribute.

[Rebecca]

WE ALL LOVE YOU! And we're so happy your spirits are up--despite th fact that you have to be on a PC (shudder to think...) But seriously, we've all been worried sick about you and hope you know how much we've been praying and thinking safe thoughts.

Now, when the hell are you coming HOME????

Love, Bec, Bri, Zack and Josh

write or call when you can...
rhenigin@verizon.net

[Andrea Force]

Thomas,

As I signed onto Electric Minds this morning to joke and banter, I had a moment of guilt over spending time at such idle pleasure. I also pondered the fact that tonight I will be celebrating the New Year.

The tsunami dominates the news here. Everyday the newscasters update the grim statistics. But I don't know anyone on that side of the world (I thought). It's awful news, but it doesn't touch me. And then I feel guilty for that.

It took finding out that you were there to put a human face on the tragedy for me. The way you describe how life at the Mutur/NP House has been affected makes the newscasts real. And I feel shame for that.

I shouldn't need for someone I know to be there to feel compassion for the victims of a tragedy of such magnitude.

Please don't misunderstand my post. I am not asking you or anyone else for forgiveness. My guilt and shame is mine to deal with. If anything, I have discovered something about myself that I don't like very much. But, at least knowing it, I can work on it.

I do apologize for this post being about me ... so far. What I just read up above is mostly joyful news. The house survives. The cat and dog are fine. Most of the data from your G4 is retrievable after all. And, most importantly, the tsunami spared you and your housemates.

Be safe, be happy,
Andrea Force "vita"

[Fran]

The greatest gift for me this holiday season was to see your face smiling back up at me from a Newsday ad. It was only then I knew you were alive and OK. My computer has crashed and I had no access to a computer to check the blog. Be well my friend and I will write more wen I can. Until later, always Fran