Friday is August 29th...the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. That's one of those events where people remember where they were. I was in Kansas, counting my blessings that I wasn't any closer to the Gulf. But I remember being sad, feeling pain and grief for the city...a city I'd longed to go to for years.
I was planning to put off a post until Friday, to tell you how NOLA has come a long, long way, but that she and her people are still pretty devastated. I wanted to tell you how even amongst the PTSD and the buildings, shops, and homes that are still empty, we are overjoyed by the little comebacks; the streetcar on Carrollton up and running, finally. A neighbor just about to move in to a house they bought the day before Katrina but never had the opportunity to sleep in. We even rejoice over potholes being filled.
But at the moment, I'm thinking about Gustav, the latest storm headed into the Gulf. Conditions are just the same as they were three years ago, and the storm has a lot of similarities to Katrina. They are predicting it'll be here by monday evening. One of our neighbors is already borded up and headed out.
We all knew there would be other storms eventually. But the city hasn't exactly gotten over the last one. I went to fill up on gas tonight, and the lines were ridiculous. I went to get some cash from the atm...same story. Anyone can see that the people are a bit nervous, sitting on the edge of their seats watching "the cone". Will Gustav come right for us? Will it turn? Will is dissapate? Will our city be spared from another beating? Being so close to the anniversary of Katrina, I think we're all a little on edge...
