Saints Go Marching In

This summer I worked as a volunteer social worker for disaster victims in Southeast Louisiana. And, lemme tell you, if I wasn't already a fan N'awlins before, I surely love it now.
In my volunteer work, I met all different kinds of people, many walks, but one road 'through the waters' when Katrina hit. These were the people who starved in the Superdome, who left the bodies of their loved ones' by the side of the road. These were the ones who told stories of hanging on to the roofs of their houses, cycling their babies through their laps as the water came ever-upward, because they had to hold on to the roof with one hand, and the child with the other, and thus couldn't hold on to all their children at once. These were the people of the 9th Ward, of St Bernard parish, whose lives were literally obliterated. These were the people who Survived, even in the midst of so much chaos and death. As I said, I met many people, both good and bad. But the overwhelming impression I had from them was Dignity. These people had lost everything, and yet in their pain-etched faces I could see that they were trying to go on, one step at a time.
So, when I heard the beneift concert by U2 and Greenday on the radio today, it brought back all my memories of these people's suffering, and all of my hopes for their continued hoping. U2 and Greenday opened the first Saints game back in the Superdome, and they adapted some of their own songs to the situation, and it was beautiful. (Specifically, if you go here you can buy the mp3 of the performance, proceeds of which to go buy musical equipment for New Olreans schools.) Most beautiful of all was the song, Beautiful Day, adapted particularly to the floods of New Olreans. It was wonderful.
So, New Olreans, and all of Louisiana affected by Katrina, I hope you continue to heal and continue to grow in hope. And I hope that, for you, today was indeed a Beautiful Day.