I didn't actually live in the city; I lived on the west side of New Orleans in a small town called River Ridge. We used to ride our bikes to the levee; I could see the boats passing by on the Mississippi from my Grandma's house in Harahan. However, I've always called New Orleans my home. I went to the University of New Orleans (where I met my husband) and grew up picking up my dad's paycheck off Carondelet St. downtown/ riding the street car through the Garden District/ attending productions at the Saenger (sp?) theater/ Saints' games at the Superdome and MANY, MANY, MANY nights of fun in the French Quarter. My husband's high school in Slidell is completely gone and where he lived no longer exists.
I count myself lucky that no one near and dear to me perished in the aftermath of Katrina. My Mom and brother got some damage. Many of our friends lost A LOT (one specifically lost everything in her Lakeview home; another two warehouses worth of product for his business), but their spirits were not lost. This spirit is what keeps them going when you think that much of the area isn't up to 100% on hospital care and smaller things like grocery shopping are still diminished.
I pray for all those poor people who are still trying to put their lives back together. May this anniversary give them the strength to press on with their lives and hope to gain back some of what makes New Orleans special.
GO SAINTS!
1 comment:
I don't think I can go as far as saying Go Saints!, but I do agree- that was beautifully said and I don't think we really have any concept of what is was (and still is in some places) like for the poeple of New Orleans. I was just listening to a radio program about Mississippi and some of the couties there who still do not have even basic services. I hope you can go back and visit soon even though it will be sad.
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