Welcome to New Orleans, Have a Nice Day

Sep 1, 2006 by

Today a year ago was the day that I finally found out that my family was alive and well, although scattered across the US. My grandmother made it back to NOLA few months after the Storm and died recently in her home on Jackson Ave. Like most of the city’s elders she is gone now, but at least she was able to pass in her own bed in the city that has been her home. Many are not so lucky.

While there are children and a few elderly here in the city the overall demographic seems to mostly be twenties, thirties and forties. A strange new world with no guidance or wisdom (I guess that does make Ray the best mayor for us doesn’t it?) The stories and lessons of the older generations are not being told, the traditions are not being passed on, and the muisc is slowly dying. I know Lex has posted on this before, but it is a situation that demands revisiting. With housing and healthcare in a state that would make a third world country feel superior it is flat out dangerous for those getting on in years to be here. In a city so rich in tradtion that is an incredible loss.

There are times recently when even I wonder if I am doing the right thing for myself and my wife to be by staying here. I immediately pull myself back and reaffirm my desire to fight for something larger than myself, New Orleans, but the doubts persist. All of us have them. It is a daily triumph to stick it out one more day. There is so much at stake right now, we cannot give up or all will be irrevocably lost.

I cannot wait for the begining of October. I will be getting out of the city for the first time since the Storm, going up to visit friends who lleft never to return and to visit soon-to-be family in Bloomington, IN. The trip is an early Birthday present from my future mother in law, and I hope it will be a boon to my mental health.

Last Year’s Posts This Day: One year ago I was looking for many friends and family. Thanks to the wonders of the internet I had already found many people, but to this day there are those I have not yet found. It was also the day that we got news that our new apartment had made it safely through the deluge and began to make plans for the rest of our exile.

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