I like Denis Leary so I started watching his show Rescue Me on FX. It's a good show about a fireman dealing with the aftermath of 9/11. It's humorous at times and poignant at others. It's sexy and crude -- and I like to watch it.
This week's episode, Tommy (played by Leary) loses his son to a hit-and-run driver. Death #3. Where are 1 and 2?
Death #1: I'm coming back from lunch and my boss, along with her boss, is standing right next to my cubicle. My boss' office is right there, so why are they standing OUTSIDE the office? I reach my desk and sit in my chair and ask the hesitant question... "What's going on?"
My boss tells me that one of the guys we worked with passed away -- the VP of Human Resources was using her office to talk to the man's brother. This man, who sat at the cubicle right next to mine, left the company (or more, he was asked to leave) about 6 months ago. It was a hard decision at the time because he was well-liked, he just wasn't doing his job as well as he'd done in the past. I was never sure why, but I'm certain there was a reason.
Death #2: Bob Denver, best known as "Gilligan" passed away today. It was just worth mentioning. We'll miss you, little buddy.
Death #4 through ???: Katrina. If you've forgotten by now, do a quick search on "Hurricane Katrina" and you'll see it has been the worst natural disaster in American history to date. They will debate for years 'what could have been done to prevent it', but the answer will remain (pretty much) the same: not a whole lot. It's an act of God, force majeure. They know of at least 100 now, but the Mayor of New Orleans estimates that number will rise exponentially as the water in the city recedes.
In a word, it's overwhelming. I can't wrap my brain around it. After happening about a week ago, I still can't fathom it. So much death. It's all around. It's depressing. So many people being displaced. So many little things we didn't even think about are ripped from their places and schedules reorganized beyond recognition.
It's hard to think about. I can't watch but for so long. The story is pervasive -- it's everywhere. It's ubiquitous. I can't even imagine what it must smell like riding a boat down a river of sewage, oil, rotting garbage, ocean water and human remains. It's going to take years to get it back but it's never going to be like it once was. There are already stories of buildings of historic importance that are gone. All we have left are memories but even some of those have been washed away.
rescue me...
This week's episode, Tommy (played by Leary) loses his son to a hit-and-run driver. Death #3. Where are 1 and 2?
Death #1: I'm coming back from lunch and my boss, along with her boss, is standing right next to my cubicle. My boss' office is right there, so why are they standing OUTSIDE the office? I reach my desk and sit in my chair and ask the hesitant question... "What's going on?"
My boss tells me that one of the guys we worked with passed away -- the VP of Human Resources was using her office to talk to the man's brother. This man, who sat at the cubicle right next to mine, left the company (or more, he was asked to leave) about 6 months ago. It was a hard decision at the time because he was well-liked, he just wasn't doing his job as well as he'd done in the past. I was never sure why, but I'm certain there was a reason.
Death #2: Bob Denver, best known as "Gilligan" passed away today. It was just worth mentioning. We'll miss you, little buddy.
Death #4 through ???: Katrina. If you've forgotten by now, do a quick search on "Hurricane Katrina" and you'll see it has been the worst natural disaster in American history to date. They will debate for years 'what could have been done to prevent it', but the answer will remain (pretty much) the same: not a whole lot. It's an act of God, force majeure. They know of at least 100 now, but the Mayor of New Orleans estimates that number will rise exponentially as the water in the city recedes.
In a word, it's overwhelming. I can't wrap my brain around it. After happening about a week ago, I still can't fathom it. So much death. It's all around. It's depressing. So many people being displaced. So many little things we didn't even think about are ripped from their places and schedules reorganized beyond recognition.
It's hard to think about. I can't watch but for so long. The story is pervasive -- it's everywhere. It's ubiquitous. I can't even imagine what it must smell like riding a boat down a river of sewage, oil, rotting garbage, ocean water and human remains. It's going to take years to get it back but it's never going to be like it once was. There are already stories of buildings of historic importance that are gone. All we have left are memories but even some of those have been washed away.
rescue me...