Nuked
Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, you can see the evidence of Katrina’s passing. It seems like not a single structure was left untouched. Homes with entire walls and roofs missing, businesses with all their signs blown away. Trees down, or branches broken, laying across power lines, across roads, telephone poles broken, the ones that weren’t destroyed are leaning precariously, ready to let gravity take over. Wires and cables strewn haphazardly in tangled messes, mangled debris in the trees. Almost every single home you pass by in our neighborhood has a huge pile of belongings out by the curb, wet carpet, broken dishes, destroyed sofas, refigerators and all sorts of other appliances. If the water didn’t get it the wind did.
My mothers 100 year old family heirloom buffet with solid marble top, probably unsalvageable. Once belonged to my great grandmother.
The wall unit in the living room where my mom had all the old family photos and memorabilia stored and displayed, a lot of that stuff is now gone forever.
Some of the furniture that we hauled out into the backyard.
Almost everyone you see on the roads seems to be in some sort of a trance, they drive around listlessly, gazing off into the distance, wandering around like they have no place to go and nothing to do. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen, it’s like mass sleepwalking, maybe a form of shell shock? Everything is changed, finding gas can be a chore, getting medicine at the very few drugstores that are open means waiting in line for long periods of time. Going shopping at the few places that are open involves standing in line just to get inside the door, with long lines already in place long before the opening hour. Once inside the shelves are mostly empty, and you can’t buy much that needs refrigeration anyway. Your refrigerator is out by the curb.
Even the cell phone networks are totally screwed, you may have to try 10 times to get a call out and I have yet to be able to reach my voice mail since before the storm. All the radio stations are down that weren’t part of the emergency broadcasting network and are off the air, the ones that are on, are broacasting local news only, the few local TV stations on the air are all broadcasting from studios in cities that were out of reach of Katrina. If you have cable you are very lucky, if you had satellite TV, good luck if the dish didn’t get blown off your house or the receiver destroyed in the flood waters. The big thing right now is waiting, waiting, waiting for the insurance adjusters to finally make it to you, out of the million others that are doing the same thing, just to find out if you will receive enough money to recover a small shred of your formal life or any part of your sanity. The sheer amount of destruction is beyond imagination, mind boggling and overwhelming. What’s even more insane is that we were some of the “lucky” ones, the gulf coast areas of Mississippi and Alabama and also many areas of New Orleans on the east bank of the river were hit even worse than us. I shudder to imagine what they are going thru right now!
This city is going to be fucked up for a long time to come and it will never be the same. Welcome to Third World America.
One thing that I wanted to mention was that I created this creepy, spooky looking template for the Halloween season, several weeks before the hurricane hit, including the line “City of Dread”. Weird how that came true huh?
On a positive note, I had just completed a new template for a very dear friend right before the storm for Allie over at Cocktails with Allie and I didn’t get to show it off!! Check it out!! Annnnnd, I just finished one yesterday for a new friend named Laurie over at Stranded in Suburbia. Very cool!! Check her out, I think she has spotted some yuppie terrorists in her very own neighborhood!! She also has another very cool blog over at LaurieParkinson.com
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!
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Great work honey. That “trance state” you talk of is precisely that. Kind of a self-preservation mode that just keeps people, who have suffered severe trauma, from a total breakdown. Especially when the trauma is too enormous and severe to handle. Hang in there my friend. Did you find somewhere to start the chemo yet?
*hugs*
First! *plonk*
What’s the status your liver and your schooling, chum? Any prospects for getting back to school soon? Hugs.
Gene
I admire your spirit, perseverance, and ability to inspire. I also like your blogging style. Be assured that prayers and good wishes will continue to come your way. This is my first visit to your blog after reading about you on Always Victoria’s site. I’ll be back. Keep the faith.
I love my new look
Thanks, seven!
And you’re pretty amazing being able to do all that in the midst of what’s going on around you.
hang tough… (((laurie)))
That sounds really horrible. I am so sorry for you and everyone else that is having to go through this. I hope things work out for you. I haven’t forgotten about you doing my template. I’m still very interested. It just so happens that when I was going to email you back, Katrina hit and I knew that you were probably in the mist of it and I didn’t want to bother you. I will email you though. If you’re still interested…
heartbreaking, sweetie. *hugs*
that fucking sucks, man. major hugs and poinks headin’ your way. will check out the new templates asap!!!!
Hmmm…gotta go check out Suburbia…be right back.
Ok..i’m back. Wow Seven! Awesome work on Suburbia..I think it looks fantastic! I would even go so far as to say “prize winning.” How do ya like that? Both L&C both give it a paws up, so you know it has to be good!
I can’t imagine how overwhelmed I’d be if it was MY stuff that had been destroyed… I doubt if I’d have half your courage or positive attitude. Hang in there!! xo
Love the new looks!! Finally got a chance to peek at ‘em!
You do nifty nifty work. Makes me want a new template for my soaping blog, but it’ll have to await funding.
Just wanted to stop by and leave you a fresh kiss the others were pretty old and smelling the place up…..as if you did not have enough stench down there. You know my thoughts are with you and as always you still inspire me with your ability to continue to be so courageous. Take care my friend and if I can do anything for you let me know as I am here. Special thoughts and wishes to one of the best my friend.
Not much else I can do, so consider yourself hugged and smooched.
Heya Dawg!! Well, nothin’ I can add sentiment-wise. But I’m thinkin’ of ya. However, don’t write off the buffet. It’s amazing what talented woodworkers can do. Just sayin’…
Also, great templates! One of these days (after my move) we’ll have to talk. Cootersnap needs a new haircut or something…
Awww Sweetie, I can’t even imagine what it’s like in your beautiful city. I feel terrible for you and your fellow N.O. folks.
And What a shame about the beautiful furniture ;-(
I keep saying this but keep the faith!!! You are doing great blog work and there’s a whole lotta people here who care about you
Damn, looks like the fungus is taking over the furniture. I hope that you can clean everything, most people around here are just throwing everything. I have been throwing lots of antiques out of relatives homes.
Ummmm… wow.
I’m sorry about the heirlooms and things you all lost. Heart-breaking.
Even though they are “things” they’re tied to many memories, that is the loss that hurts the worse.
How are YOU??
*HUGS*
I hope the insurance people are kind with their valuation of irreplcaeable items. It’s time to re-build. Lots of tough work ahead. The best of wishes to you. You’re a tough mutha fucka!
Ah jeez, seven, there’s nothing really that can be said. You have my infinite sympathies and respect. I hope insurance comes through soon. I’ll check with my woodworking friend about the prospects for that buffet. Perhaps it can be stripped and refinished if the wood is still sound. The old varnish is obviously trashed but varnish can be redone. Make sure to air it out if it’s not already dry.
You see it on the news but to hear it first hand from someone there is quite different. I feel for ya’ll. No wonder people are staying here, nothing to go back to.
Hey Sev, I’m sorry I’ve been so out of touch. There was VERY limited email in Egypt! But I’m sorry you are going through such a shitty time. Once again, if there is anything that I can do, please let me know. xox
You’ve still got it! Those two blogs are cool - very nice indeed. And this one is awesome - totally se7en! Are you able to live in your house yet?
Sorry to hear about the furniture and every thing else that happened down there.
How sad to have lost so much!! I love your new templets!!
Hi again! I left you an earlier comment on another post
I’m sorry about your home and all your things. Some of your pretty antique furniture might be restored, maybe clean it with something to kill mold if you have to store it for a while. If I lived close, I’d help you restore it as I’ve done a few pieces before.
I hope your health issues are resolved very soon too. Keep your faith and your chin up. I’ll send light and many good wishes to you
Hey buddy, glad you are back & with family! I hope they are able to fix your mom’s precious relics.
Have you gone to the doc yet?
E-mail if you need anything.
Lois Lane
Sev,
I’m devastated looking at the buffet and can’t begin to fathom your losses and those of your family.
I’m really concerned about your meds. Pls e-mail if I can help in any way. xo’s
Still thinking of you,
Smooshes.
I couldn’t even imagine dude. Must suck, but I’m sure you’ll work it out. Good luck.