Hello Family and Friends:
It is so like me to just get on the plane, land at Louis Armstrong airport, and wait an hour at the airport for my girl friend Angelamia (who many of you know for having ridden out Katrina). Last night's "traffic" incident as it is conveyed and affirmed by mid city neighborhood folks, crazy n racist adjacent Jefferson parish decided to close off all but one lane of an 8 lane freeway. A freeway that runs pass their neighborhood from the city -- fully aware that folks have been informed to evacuate the Orleans parish and New Orleans city. A trip that usually took 15 minutes turned into over an hour. This is the very same parish (white) who policed the highway and roads, and shot at people to turn them around back to NOLA in the midst of Katrina disaster --because they were afraid of being looted, and who knows what else...
Angie is throwing a party Saturday afternoon for her spouse Ginger, my return trip 4 years after my last visit, and to mark the 3rd anniversary of Katrina. This is not a macabre tale, simply a celebration of Angie's spirit, the surrounding communities tenacity for staying and help rebuild their neighborhood/community. There will also be a fish fry Sunday afternoon at the mid-city cafe Fair Grinds at Ponce de Leon, where the neighbors are invited to party, paid for by the host a local real estate broker -- who apparently gives these opportunities for the neighborhood to stay connected. People are fixing to leave. I'd say half of the folks Angie spoke with are leaving town.
There is an electric feeling in the air, though it is hot and humid 97 degrees when I last checked. The air is crisp, possibly with the positive ions stirred -- I am somewhat euphoric. There is also anxiety, long lines for gas and banks. A storm is coming.
I glanced at the weather coverage, as we were transferring wash to the dryers, Gustav out on the Carribean is building up to a level 3 tropical storm. Will it reached hurricane speed, this is a wait and see game. I could be heading home on Tues, depending on when and where it hits land, or I could be delayed a few days as Gustav decides to stay over the Gulf, or I will be here for part 2 of the story of Katrina, friendship, and feeling like you are the right place and the right time.
Angie's house is online and their home is an oasis amidst the neighborhood's devastation. Her home is almost 90% finished, considering, she, 3 day workers, friends who helped in some way put together a new house. Marciano and Emilio his 18 year old son, another classmate from St. Anthony, helped wire the house. Tony, helped with the AC/Heating system installation. Angie's cousin Delbert help plumbed the line from the house to the street sewer line, a church group from Seattle area helped put the roof up and returned to help to put sheet rock. Some of us chipped in what we could, others prayed, and many were probably inspired by what Angie was doing.
To date, there are 2 houses on her side of the block that is occupied. Across the street, a few people are in the long and slow process of re-building their homes. Last night in the late night light, Angie pointed out FEMA boats that are where, where they were left, stranded on this side of the canal. I wanted to photograph them, showing life growing in and around.
Why am I here at this time? It was 4 years ago when this segment of my life began. I agreed to meet Angelamia here when she made the trek to here home, hauling all her belongings from Boston to the 9th ward (bought her grandma's creole cottage) to begin a new life. I had offered to help her unload her Uhaul and hang with her (whom I've know since 7th grade).
Now, seemed fitting to me, I have time and an unused ticket on Delta and a part of me wanted to be here. All before Gustav came to the picture.
As Gustav is in the picture, Angie, Ginger and I will prepare what can be prepared, all the while planning and going forth with a birthday/anniversary/welcome party, and Sunday we will be going to a fish fry. Somewhere along there, listen to good live music, eat Creole/Cajun NOLA food, living in the Big Easy as it can be lead.
Angelamia and I shared her apartment in Cambridge back in 96-97, when I was living on unemployment. A segment in my life, perhaps a less sunnier time, where I accepted living with less and friends being there to prop you up and offer what they can to help you ride it out. If I can repay that favor (subconsciously this could be operating), I've lived up to my expectation of a true friend.
I will send forth missives and communiques over the next few days. This is shaping up to be an adventure.
Don't fret my friends, I am amidst folks who survived a disaster.
Love,
Daniel
It is so like me to just get on the plane, land at Louis Armstrong airport, and wait an hour at the airport for my girl friend Angelamia (who many of you know for having ridden out Katrina). Last night's "traffic" incident as it is conveyed and affirmed by mid city neighborhood folks, crazy n racist adjacent Jefferson parish decided to close off all but one lane of an 8 lane freeway. A freeway that runs pass their neighborhood from the city -- fully aware that folks have been informed to evacuate the Orleans parish and New Orleans city. A trip that usually took 15 minutes turned into over an hour. This is the very same parish (white) who policed the highway and roads, and shot at people to turn them around back to NOLA in the midst of Katrina disaster --because they were afraid of being looted, and who knows what else...
Angie is throwing a party Saturday afternoon for her spouse Ginger, my return trip 4 years after my last visit, and to mark the 3rd anniversary of Katrina. This is not a macabre tale, simply a celebration of Angie's spirit, the surrounding communities tenacity for staying and help rebuild their neighborhood/community. There will also be a fish fry Sunday afternoon at the mid-city cafe Fair Grinds at Ponce de Leon, where the neighbors are invited to party, paid for by the host a local real estate broker -- who apparently gives these opportunities for the neighborhood to stay connected. People are fixing to leave. I'd say half of the folks Angie spoke with are leaving town.
There is an electric feeling in the air, though it is hot and humid 97 degrees when I last checked. The air is crisp, possibly with the positive ions stirred -- I am somewhat euphoric. There is also anxiety, long lines for gas and banks. A storm is coming.
I glanced at the weather coverage, as we were transferring wash to the dryers, Gustav out on the Carribean is building up to a level 3 tropical storm. Will it reached hurricane speed, this is a wait and see game. I could be heading home on Tues, depending on when and where it hits land, or I could be delayed a few days as Gustav decides to stay over the Gulf, or I will be here for part 2 of the story of Katrina, friendship, and feeling like you are the right place and the right time.
Angie's house is online and their home is an oasis amidst the neighborhood's devastation. Her home is almost 90% finished, considering, she, 3 day workers, friends who helped in some way put together a new house. Marciano and Emilio his 18 year old son, another classmate from St. Anthony, helped wire the house. Tony, helped with the AC/Heating system installation. Angie's cousin Delbert help plumbed the line from the house to the street sewer line, a church group from Seattle area helped put the roof up and returned to help to put sheet rock. Some of us chipped in what we could, others prayed, and many were probably inspired by what Angie was doing.
To date, there are 2 houses on her side of the block that is occupied. Across the street, a few people are in the long and slow process of re-building their homes. Last night in the late night light, Angie pointed out FEMA boats that are where, where they were left, stranded on this side of the canal. I wanted to photograph them, showing life growing in and around.
Why am I here at this time? It was 4 years ago when this segment of my life began. I agreed to meet Angelamia here when she made the trek to here home, hauling all her belongings from Boston to the 9th ward (bought her grandma's creole cottage) to begin a new life. I had offered to help her unload her Uhaul and hang with her (whom I've know since 7th grade).
Now, seemed fitting to me, I have time and an unused ticket on Delta and a part of me wanted to be here. All before Gustav came to the picture.
As Gustav is in the picture, Angie, Ginger and I will prepare what can be prepared, all the while planning and going forth with a birthday/anniversary/welcome party, and Sunday we will be going to a fish fry. Somewhere along there, listen to good live music, eat Creole/Cajun NOLA food, living in the Big Easy as it can be lead.
Angelamia and I shared her apartment in Cambridge back in 96-97, when I was living on unemployment. A segment in my life, perhaps a less sunnier time, where I accepted living with less and friends being there to prop you up and offer what they can to help you ride it out. If I can repay that favor (subconsciously this could be operating), I've lived up to my expectation of a true friend.
I will send forth missives and communiques over the next few days. This is shaping up to be an adventure.
Don't fret my friends, I am amidst folks who survived a disaster.
Love,
Daniel
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