The next wave.
The next wave of hurricane related deaths is beginning to appear. These deaths are due not to the actual hurricane but rather to its aftermath. How do you cope with a life destroyed in a flash? Where do you find peace in the chaos? To many people here thoughts of suicide are not uncommon. Our lives are emotional roller coasters, constantly swinging between highs and lows. Unfortunately some people aren’t experiencing the highs; they are caught in an emotional free fall.
Suicide is a very private thing and rumors of these deaths have been making the rounds. We have had no way to substantiate them. A few weeks ago this changed with the public announcement that Stevenson Palfi a local documentary filmmaker took his own life.
I didn’t know him well, as he was a customer of mine rather than a friend. I haven’t seen him in a few years, but I can remember him for his smile and the handshake that he gave me every time he came into the shop. He was well known as the maker of the film “Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together,” and other documentaries. His home and office located in Mid-city were completely destroyed by Katrina. His life’s work was gone. I guess he saw no way to stop the free fall. I was very sad when I heard the news.