Devastation

{Ok, so my 500th post wasn't posted yesterday, nor is this it. Due to some shuffling around of drafts, I think you'll be seeing #500 on Monday. But don't quote me on that. In any case, just know I haven't forgotten about it... and I'm still looking for something fabulous to do to commemorate it. And I'm still taking suggestions...}

That all being said, this post isn't about me. It's about the people of Haiti. And like Petra said, "Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Haiti was rocked with a 7.0 earthquake on Tuesday that has caused incredible devastation, massive injuries and a death toll that is rising by the day."

This will likely be the photo I remeber most vividly from the disaster

CNN is saying, "Absolutely catastrophic situation looms in Haiti... People are without water, food, shelter... Hospitals collapsed; clinics can't handle load... Airport, sea port, roads closed; supplies sit." Here is a link to a slideshow if you'd like to look for yourself.

I have been watching CNN for hours on end while sitting in my hotel room the last few days. I can't seem to change the channel or even turn the TV off. Someone else mentioned on their blog today, or maybe it was Facebook, that she wanted to crawl through her TV screen and start helping where she could. I wish that was something I was able to do right at this moment. I guess I can start by giving money... and who knows, maybe I can hop on a plane down there during one of my off weeks and help out somehow. I'll have to see about some really cheap flights and maybe paddle over from Florida, but the possibilities are endless. Anybody with me?

And if you would like to donate, whether it be money, time or supplies, I suggest going through the Red Cross, only because there are so many scams out there. I guess you can also text "Haiti" to 90999 on your cell phone to donate $10, and it will be charged on your next bill... but don't quote me on that. I'm gonna give it a try.

This disaster has got me thinking about a few things. Here are a few of my thoughts on the situation...

Haiti is without a doubt, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. It floors me that this is the case when the country is sooo close in physical proximity to the US. I'm not saying the US should take it under its belt and fix everyting, I'm just saying the extremes amaze me. We are literally 700 miles away from the tip of Florida to Port-au-Prince. That's not very far at all. 700 miles separates one of the greatest powers in the world, and one of the poorest. Mind boggling.

My other thought is this... I have a hard time understanding how a government (and this is because I'm an American and I've never known any differently) doesn't institute laws and regulations to keep its citizens safe and cared for. We're seeing before and after pictures of the Presidential Palace and the ruins that remain, but most of the country was in ruins to begin with. If all of the buildings were in substandard conditions, why weren't efforts made to improve them? I know it's an issue of money, and the fact that the country has none, but it still makes me sad. Now the poorest of the poor are left with less than nothing and no means with which to rebuild.

And now I'm rambling on... so please just know this: My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this disaster. I will do whatever I can within my means to help. I hope you will all do the same.