On my mind...

In a recent CNN article about donations coming in from around the world to help with Katrina (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/02/katrina.world/index.html), Germany said (without providing any funds) that it would "offer aid or money if requested by Washington, though officials said the U.S. was well equipped to deal with natural disasters." Sri Lanka on the other hand, which is still just barely recovering from the tsunami, has already pledged $25,000. That may not seem like much, but it may be all they have.

Thanks to Australia who has already donated A$10 million (US$7.7 million) plus a team of emergency management specialists and Japan who donated $200,000 to the Red Cross and would also provide up to $300,000 in aid supplies such as tents and power generators. It's nice to know that someone out there is thinking of our people, even as the Netherlands spends their time critiquing our preparedness.

My heart, of course, goes out to all of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. If you choose to give a donation, please consider this fund. So often, animals have to be left behind in these tragedies -- shelters cannot take them, many hotels won't -- and unfortunately they are often unable to be reunited with their owners who may either be unable or unwilling to reestablish their relationship with their beloved pets. I know the connections that owners and their animals have. I would hope that, were anything to happen to me, someone would think of Conner and Clio.

I am not good with people dying. I don't mean that I break down and am a complete disaster at the thought of death, but rather the opposite. I never really know what to say, and I always think I come off sounding either stupid or insincere. So, with that in mind, I know that the next few days will be difficult ones, as my mom's brother passed away and I'm not good at knowing what the "right" thing to say is. I can't think of an appropriate tribute, as I don't know that I knew him very well, though he has always been a part of my life. So, I figured the least I could do would be to post his obituary. So, here it is:

Robert S. Drotar Sr.
Monday, August 29, 2005
A Mass for Robert S. Drotar Sr., 65, of Linden will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. John the Apostle Church, Linden, after the funeral from the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle St., Linden.

Mr. Drotar died Saturday in Haven Hospice at JFK Medical Center, Edison.

He was a yardman with the Leaseway Trucking Co. in Linden for 25 years before retiring in 1988.

Mr. Drotar was a member of the Central New Jersey Teamsters Retirees Club.

Born in Elizabeth, he lived in Linden for 45 years.

Surviving are Pamela A., his wife of 44 years; sons, Robert S. Jr. and Raymond S., and a sister, Cheryl.