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davidfcooperDear Joshua,
Your father sent to us the petition that you started as part of your Bar Mitzvah project, and he indicated that you had read my "Fighting Katrina Fatigue" email. I am very impressed by what you are doing and am honored to know that my email might have helped to encourage this important project that you have undertaken. Your father has great reason to be proud of it, and of you, and I'm so glad that he shared this with us. By the way, I have a 13-year old son as well, and I know that you guys can get pretty embarrassed and even annoyed at us dads when we express our pride, so in case you didn't want him to send it out to us, give him a break!
That this is part of your Bar Mitzvah has particularly special meaning for us. Believe it or not, our Adam had his Bar Mitzvah on the weekend that Katrina paid us her visit. The service went forward as planned on Saturday morning (Aug. 27), but as it became more clear that Katrina was heading our way, many people left town that afternoon, and we all firmed up plans to leave that day or the next. We still had a party Saturday night, although with about half as many people as planned for, and then we evacuated the City early Sunday a.m. Katrina hit Monday morning and, well you know the rest of the story. Our own house took 6 feet of water, we hope to rebuild it but aren't certain yet (a 2-story house, and the upstairs was fine). Needless to say, we now look back at Adam's Bar Mitzvah as the last happy event prior to everything changing so drastically.
The support of people like you, and the fact that you are encouraging the support of others, is very important, and we thank you for it. It give us hope for many more happy events ahead. You of course are absolutely correct that the hurricane/wind itself did not cause the vast majority of the problem, that instead it was the poorly designed levees that should have but did not hold up in a storm that, by the time it hit New Orleans, was really a Category 3 storm, which supposedly the levees were built to withstand.
Although you and I have never met, I know that you are a thoughtful young man with a commitment to doing the right thing and to doing your part to increase the awareness of others, all of which helps to make this, whether Louisiana, Florida, or somewhere else, better for us all. When I sent my email to a group of friends from outside of Louisiana, I had no idea how many people would eventually read it. I did receive many responses, but I must say that your response is the most meaningful of all.
I have signed the petition and intend to forward it to the list that originally received my "Fighting Katrina Fatigue" email. I expect that you will begin to see many names you do not recognize!
Mazel Tov, and Thank you.
Larry Orlansky
http://www.livejournal.com/users/davidfcooper/150809.html
Your father sent to us the petition that you started as part of your Bar Mitzvah project, and he indicated that you had read my "Fighting Katrina Fatigue" email. I am very impressed by what you are doing and am honored to know that my email might have helped to encourage this important project that you have undertaken. Your father has great reason to be proud of it, and of you, and I'm so glad that he shared this with us. By the way, I have a 13-year old son as well, and I know that you guys can get pretty embarrassed and even annoyed at us dads when we express our pride, so in case you didn't want him to send it out to us, give him a break!
That this is part of your Bar Mitzvah has particularly special meaning for us. Believe it or not, our Adam had his Bar Mitzvah on the weekend that Katrina paid us her visit. The service went forward as planned on Saturday morning (Aug. 27), but as it became more clear that Katrina was heading our way, many people left town that afternoon, and we all firmed up plans to leave that day or the next. We still had a party Saturday night, although with about half as many people as planned for, and then we evacuated the City early Sunday a.m. Katrina hit Monday morning and, well you know the rest of the story. Our own house took 6 feet of water, we hope to rebuild it but aren't certain yet (a 2-story house, and the upstairs was fine). Needless to say, we now look back at Adam's Bar Mitzvah as the last happy event prior to everything changing so drastically.
The support of people like you, and the fact that you are encouraging the support of others, is very important, and we thank you for it. It give us hope for many more happy events ahead. You of course are absolutely correct that the hurricane/wind itself did not cause the vast majority of the problem, that instead it was the poorly designed levees that should have but did not hold up in a storm that, by the time it hit New Orleans, was really a Category 3 storm, which supposedly the levees were built to withstand.
Although you and I have never met, I know that you are a thoughtful young man with a commitment to doing the right thing and to doing your part to increase the awareness of others, all of which helps to make this, whether Louisiana, Florida, or somewhere else, better for us all. When I sent my email to a group of friends from outside of Louisiana, I had no idea how many people would eventually read it. I did receive many responses, but I must say that your response is the most meaningful of all.
I have signed the petition and intend to forward it to the list that originally received my "Fighting Katrina Fatigue" email. I expect that you will begin to see many names you do not recognize!
Mazel Tov, and Thank you.
Larry Orlansky
http://www.livejournal.com/users/davidfcooper/150809.html
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no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 02:14 am (UTC)Interesting thing about the overly-smart: there's really no guarantee that they'll make the best choice of the broader choices available to them. And when they make stupid choices, it's much more profound in the consequences that ensue.
People of modest intellectual gifts are more reliable. :)
But, yes, indeed! As someone who has screwed things up in baroque style herself, I can tell the difference. I've actually made it my business to try to just own up to my screwups, and deal with it.
I used to be a bit more timid about that sort of thing, and, interestingly, my coworker (C.J.) had recently questioned me about something that touched on this issue. When I'd mentioned that I haven't even seen an episode of The Simpsons or That 70's Show in a couple of years, because I was just so incredibly turned off by even the Fox-TV network (much less their NewsCorp channel), that I just stopped watching Channel 5, even though I loved a few of those shows. The following year, I gave up on network TV almost completely (as you may know, I still find SNL worthwhile), as I'd concluded that there was nothing but useless garbage to be had, not news. C.J. was amazed. Asked me if I'd always been "that strong".
I thought about it briefly--answered "No, I don't think that's always been the case".
Maybe that's my erstwhile friend's purpose in life--an object lesson for the onlooker. Probably not what she would like to think, but I always have a tendency to search for the most constructive possible interpretation...
*smirk* (How's that for a character flaw?)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 04:17 am (UTC)I resemble that remark!
People of modest intellectual gifts are more reliable. :)
But often are also dull.
I also rarely watch network TV. Most of my favorite programs in recent years have been on HBO.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 04:55 am (UTC)I have videos of The Sopranos (Adrienne was yet unwhacked) that my parents were kind enough to make for me, as I don't have cable--and my VCR must be replaced (it's on the fritz). I do love what I have seen of HBO, though. I admit it!
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-28 04:49 am (UTC)You're right, of course--my daughter's b.f. might eventually get a DVD player installed on this PC (he built it & set it up for me--bless him, he's my favorite techie!)--I've seen episodes of the late, lamented Six Feet Under and also Curb Your Enthusiasm, which I loved! Have heard only good about Deadwood...I'll probably have to get all the seasons of The Sopranos on DVD & call it a day. I'm particularly fond of the latter show.