The title alone is a little overwhelming, even for me. I guess you can see where I am going with this. Gosh, I am not good at tackling serious subjects. I mean, I get them, have lived through them, surrounded myself with tons of friends, increasing the likelihood one would have a serious problem – and many have. Fortunately, I always have dealt with them head on. When a friend needs help – I take action and have no problem telling them to go get help. When my middle son was sick with stomach issues and feeding tubes in his earlier years (he is fine now), I spent many months in children’s hospitals. No matter how bad your kid had it – there were 1,000 who had it worse. But kids keep plugging along because they don’t know any better. It is the parents who fall apart.

In an earlier post, I recognized that Post Katrina Stress Disorderis a real thing and now the newest suicide statistics in New Orleans hit the news. While the other day my co-blogger at Hooah Wife wrote about the suicide rate of the military. The news headline today is of a murder suicide in Slidell. I think the most important thing is to recognize that it IS REAL!!!! Post traumatic stress disorder is something we all must become educated about – NOW!!!!

I knew that coming to Louisiana and starting a new blog driven by my positive outlook and mixed with my warped sense of humor, would undoubtedly tick someone off as I often find humor in serious subjects. When people are living in their own personal hell (often their mind), they don’t want to hear that the grass is greener. If one person smiles each day or gets one thing out of my posts – maybe I have made a small contribution to a society and its’ psyche. But this isn’t about me, it is about you – you are the readers, you are the ones I have in mind when I write something. And I feel awful that I can’t please everyone – but nobody can (I’m realistic too). I wish I could snap my fingers and everyone in the world could erase the trauma they witnessed or survived. Kiss My Gumbo will continue to plug away as it is my personal way of giving something back…anything….after all I never joined the armed forces and did not live here through Katrina.

The fact is, that I want to help everyone, have no training in psychology past the basic college courses and see the need for some serious interventions. Part of my job as a Soldiers’ Angel is to help soldiers feel appreciated their entire time they serve their country and when they return home. I want you, my audience, my readers to know that I am trying my darndest to touch your lives in a positive way to the best of my ability. I apologize if I come across as insensitive as that certainly is not my intent. Misery does love company and hopefully you can start your day with somebody who isn’t miserable, but is very happy. I am here for you New Orleans (and I mean the whole area beyond the lake).

And for what it is worth, I did serve the country during the war by holding down the homefront while my husband served. I also am helping in the rebuilding of a great city by coming down here and offering a little bit of hope, even if I do not live “in” the city. I love it here. Thanks for having me!

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
~Helen Keller~

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
~Charlie Chaplin~

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
~Winston Churchill~

(c/p at NOLA.com)

h/t Milena Merrill for the military article