Two years ago today, Katrina made landfall on the Gulf coast. [View All]

[Magrittes Pipe]

17 years ago today, my daughter was born.

I know it seems like an odd juxtaposition, but bear with me. When Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi coast, it brought out the best and the worst in people. Stories of great bravery and personal sacrifice flooded the wires in the ensuing weeks. SImilarly, there were stories of betrayal, failure, and hatred.

Teenagers also show the best and the worst of the human condition. They're rash, they're sometimes selfish, they're often lazy, they frequently think they know it all... but they can also be incredibly kind, they're discovering the world around them with intelligence and critical thinking, they have a sense of fun and wonder that we grownups often forget.

Corinne was born on August 29, 1990. And because of that, I will never forget August 29, 2005. They're not the same thing -- I love my daughter, while I hate the loss that accompanied Katrina -- but they're forever linked now. And perhaps that's a good thing. It's important to remember. We need to remember the failures, the catastrophes, the brutal winds and rains that left so many homeless or worse. Maybe having these memories of tragedy tempered by joy is a good thing. Maybe it allows us to remember, and yet to go on.

See, my family -- Corinne, Ruby, and their mother -- gives me the strength I need to persevere through the difficult times. Thankfully, we've never faced the devastation so many faced two years ago; but if we did, I know that we could find a way to survive. If all we have is each other, we've still got a lot.

I guess I got the best present after all.