I have been a member of this forum for a few years now. While I don’t post that often I find myself here almost daily looking for information and my daily fix on the island I love and miss. Most of the time, I find exactly what I need causing my day to be a little more pleasant and I Thank You for that.

Unfortunately, lately I haven’t been getting that same feeling. I understand that this catastrophe has caused so much uncertainty, turmoil, and pain & suffering to so many people that it makes my heart incredibly sad, as I’m sure yours. I also understand that everyone’s emotions are all running on “overload”. We all want to help and just don’t know how because there is nothing we can really do but wait; and we all know that waiting is incredibly hard and provides us absolutely no comfort. This waiting for the unknown is causing us to all be on edge.

I have been seeing things around here that I normally don’t. I see people’s comments being very short or cut off short. I have seen things said to others that I know under normal circumstances would never be brought up or said. I have even seen a few hurtful comments being thrown around. I truly believe that this is NOT who we are. I believe our emotions are on “overload” causing us many hurt feelings.

I hope that everyone understands that we are ALL in this together.

We ALL have questions and not enough answers.

We ALL have thoughts and concerns that we believe are the most important. Please keep in mind that for every important thought or concern you have somebody else an equal amount for different reasons.

We are ALL trying to find out a little bit more information to ease our minds. That information is all coming to us second hand leaving a little doubt in our minds behind.

We are ALL trying to share any little bit of information we can obtain to help ease others minds. Sometimes in our hast we might share something that is not correct. I don’t think anyone is trying to do this on purpose or be hurtful. Some folks just don’t have the computer knowledge or access to information that others do to verify things.

We ALL have a vested interest in “Our Island” or we wouldn’t be on this forum in the first place. Some may have a substantial monetary interest. Some may have a deep rooted emotional interest. Some have an interest in very much-loved family members. Some have interest in a close friend. Some even have an interest in a heart that aches for the suffering of the island people (and animals) they have never even meet before.

We are ALL equally helpless in this situation. We want to rush down and help but we can’t right now. We want to send supplies but we can’t right now. We want to ease the suffering and pain of those affected the most but we can’t right now. We want to help rebuild but we can’t right now. I am sure in the near future we will have access to a means to help, but in the meantime, all we can do is wait, and once again waiting is so hard.

We ALL need to realize that we are in this together and together are a very knowledgeable, friendly, and well-meaning group.

Bottom line for me is that I truly enjoy my time on this forum and I will continue to rely on it for my main source of island information. I also appreciate the time and effort everyone puts in here. That’s includes everyone; Carol, Eric, the Moderators, and all of those who take time from their day post information and answer questions. I believe that this forum is filled with good intentions and good people. We will ALL get through this catastrophe together.

Very well said. Thank you for the words of wisdom. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Amen....... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thank you for your thoughtful post.