(no subject)

[marathoner452]

For the benefit of new friends who want to hear about life at the Red Cross. :-)

Seems to have a hurry-up-and-wait quality about it. One week I'll give several presentations to hundreds of kids, the next week I'll just be sitting around waiting for schools or scout troops to respond to my emails so I can schedule more presentations. Or maybe it's just because I started literally the day Katrina hit, so anything else is slow and downright boring. We have to be ready in case a disaster strikes, but usually they don't and it's life as usual.

Right now is one of those between-times. No one is really going to have time for a presentation over the holiday season, though I do have 2 presentations scheduled for the week after Thanksgiving. A couple people have promised to call me several times but haven't gotten back to me yet. And hurricane season is almost over, thank goodness. And I've committed to getting trained and getting some local experience before I'm deployed to a national operation, because, unfortunately, Katrina won't be the last destructive hurricane we'll face.

So at this point I'm trying to live out my life as an Americorps VISTA here at the Red Cross out in Frederick County, Maryland, giving disaster education presentations to kids. VISTAs are supposed to focus on reducing the inequalities of poverty, so my mission right now is to get into scout meetings, public schools and the YMCA, not just private schools. Though in the end, everyone needs to hear this stuff so they can be prepared.

In my spare time, whatever that is anymore, I train for marathons and read Caribbean history books. :-) Next on my life agenda is graduate school and moving someplace a lot warmer than Maryland. B-)

~Bethany

Comments

[ratkrycek.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your update. :) I guess you wouldn't really want a disaster every day, or really, want one at all - but, you know. The idea of helping people out when they need it most does appeal. But you wouldn't wish it on anyone. :(

My grandparents, last I heard, were camping out in their home after Wilma, so no power, etc for a while... they lost their patio. But they were fortunate, of course. Education is important - so many people just blow this stuff off, and then when it happens, they ask what to do, because they don't know what to do. If they ask.

At our intro course we discussed a bit about people who couldn't or wouldn't evacuate NOLA - and how many of those people, even, were not prepared even though they stayed.

My cousin Gabby used to run in the New York marathon - don't know if she still does. I think she might even have won or come in close one year - Gabrielle (Lynn) Stevens, her name would show as, in case theres a website you hang out on that tracks such things. :) And as a kid, I lived in Wellesley, MA, and I always went to town to hold out orange slices for the runners as they came through during the Boston Marathon. I think I've heard they don't allow people to hold out fruit and water out for the runners anymore, though. :(

Liability, perhaps - but it was a fun thing to do. I still remember how one guy took the orange from my palm - you balanced them on as flat a palm you could while still keeping the orange on it, there was an art to it, you see ;) - and also took the time to tousle my hair and say, "Thanks, cutie" as he went by. Good memories. :)

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

We runners love you people who hand out oranges and such on the race course. Gummies are especially appreciated. I can't imagine why a race director wouldn't let you do that. We also love people who wear funny costumes, both spectators and runners. I finished just in front of BatGirl this year at the Baltimore Marathon. :-)

As for that first paragraph, I think I know exactly what you mean. You would never wish a disaster on anyone, but when it does happen, it feels really good to be able to help.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the next items on the life agenda. And as always, my support is with you whatever comes. :-)