I've always loved the community vibe around natural disasters.  They shake
things up, like christmas, and you know everyone is thinking about the same
thing.  It's the closest thing to ritual our society has.  It crosses all
religious and class boundaries.  When money and praying don't matter the
playing field is leveled. 

When I was a kid my best friend, Debbie, lived near a small grocery store
calle the LIve Oak Super.  It wasn't a super market but not a convenience
store either.  A little bit ghetto but good in a pinch.They had a couple
video games, one of which was a car game where you played a 4wd truck
zooming around a course.  El Ray xracer?  I can't remember the name.  Anyhow,
I loved the game and therefore I loved the Live Oak super.  I had ghetto
store allegience.  Sometimes we would buy candy there, too, but trips there
were really about the video game.

In 1989 after the Loma PRieta earthquake when water was in short supply
instead of stepping up to the plate of community outreach, the live oak
super decided to charge an arm and a leg.  somethign like $10 or $15 for
oen of those 2 1/2 gallon jugs.  I lost some sort of faith in humanity
that day, seeing in my own community how people will choose to take advantage
of eachother whenever they can.

I've seen and felt a lot of that as a tourist in India.  I do my best not
to begrudge anyone since the money lost by me is miniscule compared to
the probable value it is to them.  Thoguh it's not about the money.  It's
really about wanting so badly to trust people and feeling like i can't.  I
am trying to be so open hearted and open to experience but each time I let
my gaurd down when someone offers help or a suggestion it turns around
and strikes back.  From pujas at the ghat to offering directions in the
street.  When the chain fell off rob's bike and someone stopped to help fix
it I was floored when he just nodded and went on his way without asking
for money once it was fixed.  I don't want to live with this skepticism
but I'm not sure how to get around it.