Or the closest thing I have ever known.

No word on our house or cats. The situation in New Orleans is dire, what's left of us. People are trying to help with the animals, and God bless them, but I don't know if any of them will be able to get in -- we hear they're letting almost no one in -- and I've already given up so much of my hope. Last night I had the first dream of being home, of seeing their faces. Thank God for our nurse friend who lives near my mother; if not for the array of pharmaceuticals she has been handing out, I believe I would have run outside and grabbed one of those live wires the PSAs are always telling you not to touch.

We're currently without power; I'm writing this at a wireless cafe in Jackson, where we came to make a supply run. I can't possibly answer the volume of e-mail I've received, so I will have to hope everyone is reading this. If you have purchased anything from my outstanding eBay auctions, please know that I have no idea whether the items still exist and no way of sending them to you. If you have paid via Paypal, I will refund your money ASAP. If you sent a check, please stop payment. If you sent a money order, I will attempt to return it to you if and when I can.

Please pray for us.