Week 4- The Katrina/Rita Evacuation

[Guest guest]

Hey All,

 

This is probably going to be my last Katrina/Rita update. Sorry, if you

get this more than once.

 

The previous 3 weeks have been physically taxing on my body, but it

really seemed like a walk in the park.....but this past week, has been

by far, the most challenging and required every single ounce of energy I

had, to maintain my health and boundaries while assisting others. Read

on, and you'll know what I mean!

 

Last week, those folks that were still waiting to have their housing or

FEMA paperwork processed, were given a very rude and disrespectful

verbal eviction notice within 24 hours from The Astrodome/Reliant

areas. Many that were confused, and had family in town or were in the

process of making their own housing arrangements here in Houston, were

put on buses headed to Arkansas. One handicap woman I was helping, was

among them.

 

I don't have lots of energy, tonight to share more details on what

happened, but I stuck with Marie's family through thick and thin. I

located a couple of houses, they could rent and they located a couple of

apartments and finally decided on one where the apartment owner was

helping get their paperwork processed quicker. But the housing folks,

went and inspected these folks apartment unit and wanted the owner to

install windows in 2 of the bedrooms, for safety reasons, which caused a

Big Delay in getting a housing voucher. So, after the windows were put

in, and approved. I took several families to the housing authority,

only to be told, that they were shutting down until Next week, due to

the potential threat of Hurricane Rita coming to Texas. The housing

authority is opening up Tomorrow morning!

 

I was content to stay in Houston and ride out Rita, but Marie and her

family really wanted to seek higher ground in the Dallas area, and help

their kids deal with their previous Katrina- traumas, so I thought, it

was a good precaution to evacuate as well. I called my friends in the

Dallas area and no one could find a hotel room anywhere in Texas! A

friend of mine offered their log cabin thats located right next door to

their own home, near the Ft Worth area. So I picked up Marie, her

daughter and 2 kids in my car and loaded a wheelchair and luggage in my

trunk.. Traffic was so bad, that it took us 7 hours to travel only 30

miles, so I wasn't to eager to travel to Olkahoma.

 

At one point, of sitting in traffic at 3am, I had deducted that, at our

current rate, we would not make it to Dallas on only one tank of gas, so

I started looking for alternatives and had come up with an alternative

route, that would by-pass all the Highway traffic...and everything was

going well, except all the gas stations we were going to, ran out of

gas. By the 10th one, I got a bit nervous...if we should even travel at

all, if we couldn't get any gas to come back. And because this Katrina

family was tired and stressed out too, they started questioning and

arguing with every single move we made. (I later found out, they were

scared of facing the same fate as those in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre

movie,) because we were taking dark roads up to log cabins now. So they

changed their mind, and instead of going to Dallas, they wanted to

find the first hotel and get a room there. But I knew they were all

full..but because of their fears, didn't believe me. So we stopped at

several and told the same thing. Sold Out!

 

One hotel manager, suggested that, as a last resort, to buy some milk,

empty out the containers and put some extra gas in them...to make the

trip. I drove around some small town city, and found a supermarket that

also had an Academy next to it. I bought 4 containers that held 6

gallons each and found one self-serve gas station that had gas left and

filled my car up and the extra containers...and figured out a way to tie

down my trunk lid, so it would all fit.

 

To make an extremely long and stressful trip and story short, we left

Houston at Wed. 7pm and arrived in College Station, 100 miles away

Thurs at 3pm...You do the Math! Hotels were sold out, but Emergency

Evacuation Shelters were taking folks. So we stayed at a United

Methodist Church, right across the street from the Texas A & M

University. and Now, I was given a cot , just like the rest of them! We

all laughed about that!

 

What made the whole trip very draining on me was this: This Katrina

family because of old and new negative traumas, was lashing out at me,

for some of the frustrations they have endured from their past, or from

Katrina or FEMA, or from whoever...and Most of it, I could understand

and brush off, but a few of them, really hit home in my heart, and I

got hurt. They later apologized, when they calmed down, but It really

helped me, to keep them at a distance, emotionally by establishing

better boundaries for myself.

 

For example, when we first arrived in College Station at the shelter,

they told me, they would catch a taxi back to Houston and they wanted to

be left alone, and suggested I travel up to Dallas without them because

I was upsetting her daughter? Because her daughter had her own fears,

that I was the Son of the Texas Chainsaw folks.....which is ludacris,

but at the time, I offered them, a free log cabin next to a house that

some close friends of mine owned, up near Fort Worth.

 

Thanks to those of you, who called and helped me in a wide variety of

ways. You have no idea, how much I was touched that made me feel, I

wasn't alone in helping all these folks. Im glad I took the chance and

courage to open up and ask for help.

 

So many of my friends, colleagues and family, having been urging me to

take care of myself first. and so I finally took their advice. While

at College Station, even though I really wanted to help volunteer to

help the Rita folks, myself included, I didn't. Instead I kept busy,

catching up on my much needed rest, doing my daily 5 min. energy

balancing routine, going to a bookstore and getting some books to read

that I have an interest in, while Rita was making its way to the Texas

shores.

 

We got back into Houston a few days ago, they now have a new apartment,

and are getting furniture for it, as we speak. I've been helping about

7 other families get situated in their places, taking them to get food

and groceries, etc. I checked up on all of them yesterday to find out

that most of them have re-connected to most of their lost family

members, one way or another and have found apartments or homes to live

in. I drove some, and bought some food for some other folks, other

folks that have kids with Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, they wanted

to try energy healing techniques on their kids, so I got them Donna

Eden's Book, Energy Medicine, as a first step.

 

Today, was the first day, I dedicated to " taking care of myself " and

looking at my house, I have so many projects that are over-due, and

new business I need to take care of, so I worked until 6am, slept until

3pm. took my car to have its seats cleaned due to a smelly " accident " in

the passenger seat, went to see the Batman Begins Movie and ate my

first really yummy meal for dinner(Japanese), since all this Katrina

stuff started a month ago...and now, Im about to retire for the evening.

 

I don't know, if you care about reading more or not, but here are a few

lessons I've learned or remembered that would help me, and perhaps you,

if you are ever faced with similair situation of dealing with folks that

have been through hell and back.

 

1) On Many Levels of Relationships. Always know where your own

boundaries are! And if you decide to ignore them, Prepare some back up

plans of how to re-establish them. From the govn't, to volunteers, to

helping folks in desparation, to helping folks find their own

solutions, to teach them tools, instead of providing results for them.

 

2) Any type of Crisis, for yourself or helping others thru their

stuff, Its helps you get by easier, with a little help from your

friends. I could not have possibly done everything I have done, this

past month, without the support of my friends, and those of you getting

my emails. Thanks for sending your positive energy, in so many

wonderful ways. We have done, in our own small way, what huge

organizations couldn't..Help folks in need, when they need it, knowing

that someone cares, and connects with them and supports them to be the

best they can be, during their opportunities to heal, grow and learn

more choices of self empowerment.

 

3) One friend shared some stories of doing EFT Tapping, to tap out many

fears that folks had, which I was impressed with. and to some degree,

gave me greater determination to do the drills, to get the skills, to

help in more ways. I am 99% happy with what I did and I did the best I

possibly could.

 

4) I learned that to be A true friend...one that is there for you in a

crisis. Just to be there, help and listen without judging or fixing

them. Empowering them by giving them choices. one step, one day at a

time. As much as I wanted to fix all their emotional problems, that

wasn't my job...that is theirs and when the time is right, I will be

there for them, to take that next step.

 

I even amazed myself with the skills I do have and realized more of my

potential during all this too! Over the years, Of all my mentors,

trainers and friends, Donna Eden, Howard Caesar, Dr. John LaTourrette,

Kim Wedman and Geshila, the Tibetan Monk have all taught me various

lessons, which I treasure, now more than ever. Those lessons that I

applied this past month, empowered me as well as others. My Deepest

Thanks and Appreciation for your sharing in so many ways.

 

Theres alot more I learned, but suffice as to say....If I had to do it

all over again, I would, in a heart beat. Helping so many hundreds of

thousands of folks at one time, can be draining, but well worth it.

One goal I had, got accomplished. It was to treat folks with dignity,

compassion and to teach folks with not just my words, but by example,

with my actions, behaviors, and attitudes, especially during the

stressful times. As such, I know, that in some way, I've been a good

role model, that one day, will inspire folks to Pay it Forward, and

learn how to heal themselves, so that they will have less Hot-Buttons

getting pushed and more constructive solutions can be created out of

times of chaos.

 

At least for the many families and hundreds of folks, I have come

across...I know we made a difference that Made the difference. One

fish...One person, One Moment at a time.

 

Love, Light, Laughter and Prosperity!

 

Richard " Mr. Chainsaw " Cinta....hehe!

Healer, Adventurer, Investor, Trainer

 

p.s. Im still visiting families, but have re-committed to getting my

goals back on track as well. Thanks for helping out, whether it was a

good prayer, a phone call or more, I really appreciated it!

 

p.s.s, See some of ya in Oregon in a few weeks!

 

p.s.s.s. The Energy Medicine Study Group was cancelled due to Rita last

weekend....Those that wish to attend our next one, email me and I will

send you an update