6 degrees

Heard of the 6 degrees of separation theory? That says we are connected to everyone in the world by no more than 6 degrees? E.g., I am 3 degrees from Bill Clinton cuz a friend's boyfriend met him.

I am only 1 degree of separation from a Hurricane Katrina victim (is that the right word?). Didn't even know it until yesterday. I had totally forgotten that my orchestra had done a world premiere for a New Orleans based composer (who came to play the piano solo with us) last May. Apparently his house (or rather, the roof) could be seen in a lot of the aerial pictures on the news because it was right in front of the levy break. He has lost everything...house, musical instruments, all his computer equipment he does his composing on, music, etc. He and his family were able to get out before the storm - that is lots to be grateful for in itself.

I cannot imagine what the people of New Orleans must have been through and are still going through. yes, it is material possessions that we immediately think of them losing and know that those can be replace for the most part...but everything else too? Jobs, income, culture, neighbours, communities....wow. I cannot imagine.