The Flood of Texas

 Oh boy, what a tragedy in Texas -- floods that have killed so many -- most horribly summer campers along the main flooded river. Last I saw, the death toll was 200, and will go higher -- lots of people are still missing.

Of course, the tragedy brought out the best in everyone, particularly Liberals known for their good hearts. Ha. As if! One former Houston mayoral aid, a Black woman, dismissed the tragedy since it was mostly "rich, white girls" who were swept away, lamenting that it only got press since it wasn't POC -- people of color affected. Worse, a PEDIATRICIAN, of all professionals, noted that many of the people affected were likely Trump voters (or, I guess, their families -- since scores of those killed were children), and only hoped the "non MAGA" people were saved. They fired her stupid, cruel ass from her practice, fortunately.

But, as Mr. Rogers taught, there are also the helpers, and I was proud to see the Miami Dade Urban Search and Rescue team flew to Texas, with 2 gorgeous Yellow Labs, to assist in the searches. And I finally paid attention to a charity I had heard about, GEM, or Global Empowerment Mission, based here in Doral.

It was founded by Michael Caponni, a former South Beach party boy club promoter who hit it big in real estate, and followed a predictable path: drug addiction and nearly killing himself and a girlfriend in a boat crash. But he got himself together and started GEM, which is non political, and non religious, but specializes in getting critical stuff to disasters around the world. Their first was the Haitian earthquake, where they were lauded for helping so many in that woebegone nation. I made my first donation to GEM today, and think they'll replace FIU on my annual list, as FIU's Public Health School seems to have forgotten about us -- no word from the new "Giving Director" there since last year.

Speaking of FIU, the news reported that the Business School Dean's wife and adult daughter are missing from their riverfront house and presumed dead. Earlier in the week, we learned that David Lawrence, a leading Miami philanthropist and former publisher of the Herald, lost THREE of his granddaughters, who were at the main summer camp affected: Mystic. Twin 8 year olds and an 11 year old.

Lawrence is an awesome guy -- I met him briefly years ago at a UM event -- he founded the Children's Trust, which has given millions to Miami Dade kids' education and health care programs. What a tragic irony that a man who has done so much for kids has lost his own so awfully.

Today starts my birthday week, and I have decided this year I want LOTS of gifts! Ha. I even told D1, who always comes up with creative and lovely gifts, to please stop giving me stuff. When she was in the library the other day, she saw a custom puzzle she had ordered sitting on a table, unused.

I'm not sure why I developed almost an allergy to stuff -- maybe it was losing so much of it in Hurricane Andrew. Maybe it's my growing OCD and my revulsion to clutter. But my family knows -- no more stuff -- though bottles of Stoli Elit, or maybe some Johnny Walker Blue, to keep for sipping with guests on special occasions, is always welcomed!

So instead, I realized what I enjoy most -- giving charity. I LOVE how Sinatra used to do it -- read about a local need in the Deseret News in Palm Springs, and then had his Beverly Hills lawyers anonymously send a donation, telling them "If anyone finds out about this, I'll fire you and hire NEW Jew lawyers!" I also loved Sinatra's lack of political correctness -- especially since he walked the walk of non racism and philo-semitism -- he wouldn't play in a hotel where his Black musicians couldn't stay, and his contributions to the founding of Israel explain why his name is on lots of stuff there.

But I can do it on a small scale, and I do. This week Lotus House got a donation -- an amazing facility started by a rich retired lawyer woman which has grown into the largest facility for homeless women and children in the US -- no asshole abusing men allowed anywhere near the place.

And I gave to Chabad of Texas, for more flood relief -- they do a good job of actually getting stuff to victims -- regardless of their religion.

But the Texas Flood just shows how we are all truly connected -- 2 major Miami families are direct victims of a natural disaster half a country away.

May peace come to the victims' survivors. I always remember my old friend Vince's father Vince, Senior's sage words. "Mother Nature can be one cruel bitch." She sure was in Texas last week.