I just keep hoping that when I wake up the next day this will all be some horrible nightmare
It's been the same for me all week. I wake up.. and within seconds I remember. It comes back. It's not a nightmare. It's real.
Yeah... you are very human for reacting the way you are. As a native of the area I appreciate it much.
I'm just stunned. I've been everywhere in NO multiple times. As we all feel down there, it's the town you don't necessarily want to live in but you also don't want to do without it. Now it's gone.
I've seen this coming for years and used to get pooh-poohed whenever I mentioned it. Right now... there's not a single "I told you so" in me. Just... stunned sadness.