time for neighbors to help neighbors - to take care of those around them.
Neighbors helping neighbors... isn't that what it is all about? All the time? ... so easy to forget with the day-to-day!
... and 'disasters' or 'catastrophes' (which is a word that sounds like a grammar term to me
are oftentimes times when people who are not invested in the concreteness of structures, schedules, things staying as they were (kids, someone who has been rocked right out of their role, the castaways of society) ... reminisce and write about as being magical times in which they had the opportunity to see themselves in a whole new light and liked what they saw, took risks, found new talents and leadership abilities, etc.
There was a book about disasters by a San Francisco writer which talked about the city's famous earthquake and fire as well as other disasters such as Katrina, New York during 9/11 (more of a US centered book, though not entirely) where her thesis was about people's resilience and ability to bond, and, in fact, how, amongst the rubble, lies the opportunity for deeper bonds and socially 'not the usual' bonds to form during such events. The book is "A Paradise Built in Hell, the Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster" by Rebecca Solnit.
She took it a step further and made a strong case for the best role of officials being to step out of the way and facilitate local, regular folks' initiatives, which were best informed as to the details of what needs were, as well as how things that had been running smoothly and making the best out of a tough situation in inventive and compassionate ways most often went wrong in the above-mentioned scenarios once 'the cavalry arrived' and shouldered out of the way the on-the-spot locals who knew their situation intimately. This is what I think I am hearing, that the local officials are stepping out of people's way, asking folks to help their neighbors, not getting into posturing contests nor playing hero. This is very exciting!
She also takes another step back and talks about how the community transforms as a result of such events and becomes more creative, conscious and resilient, which I think is a part of what Linda refers to when she talks about folks who know how to survive under adverse circumstances being her neighbors and being a Texan thing. So... would love to hear how Texas feels in, say, a year from now
Please, those of you who are there, correct me if I'm wrong?