is this how hurricane refugees feel?

mrs. smith and the girls took a short trip to the grands' house so as to stay out of the way while PH and the movers packed our worldly belongings. when i told the oldest PLO it was time to go home, she said, "no, mommy, we're NOT going home. we're going to hotel."

i can't imagine being displaced from my home due to catastrophic circumstances. with katrina raising the awareness bar on storm preparedness, those of us in the deep south didn't take a recent string of hurricanes lightly. up until recently, our hotel home was fully booked for weeks as hurricane gustav, et al threatened the gulf coast. how do those running away from home decide what to take and what to leave behind when faced with the reality their home may not be there when they return?

i'm sure the walls will close in on us soon, but this is just temporary. a few moments ago the girls were playing with their dad on the 3x5 space i cleared in the hotel. a small basket of blocks and books, a few dollies and one teddy bear (sure to be fought over), and us. just us. all our possessions packed on their way to washington, and i have all i need right here.

hotel sweet hotel.

too tired to think right now. PLO just came and gave me a quarter from the night stand. she said i could do laundry with it. sweet thing. 'night, y'all.