NOLA deceased 8/2005

I was in the big easy August 16, 2005. I stayed there after visiting two clients in Hattiesburg, MS and Ocean Springs, MS. Ocean Springs is right next door to NOLA. It also pretty much does not exist anymore.

Dinner at Brennan's, a quick duck into a bar for a hurricane (weird . . .) jes' for walkin' around. Pop into preservation hall for some dixieland. A few more quick ducks, a coupla beers, and then up the next day bright and early for some beignets and chicory coffee with lots of cream at Cafe Du Monde.



Ya know, it was peaceful that morning. The coffee was strong, I almost had the place to myself, it was starting to heat up, and everything felt permanent. 50 years from now, I could do the exact same thing and it would be deja vu all over again. (Cell phone pics from that day are a little grainy. Texted these to the wife to make her jealous. LOL)




Then . . . let me repeat my post from Sept 2005:
"And it WAS hell. People were being euthanized by doctors rather than let them suffer. People were dying as they were being rescued . Babies were about to die of dehydration.

45 elderly patients were left to expire at Memorial. No blame. It was triage.

People . . . frikkin' AMERICANS. . . tried to get over the crescent city connection to save themselves and were turned back at gunpoint . The convention center was anarchy.

Even so, a TINY few acted like scum.

I want you to hear this loud and clear . . . the vast vast vast majority hung on with dignity and grace. Helping each other as the Bushies dicked around preparing for their PR offensive by using firefighters for photo ops.

Just LOOK G*ddammit, you Bush apologists and Bush voters . . .

And how about the CEO/Uber-Christian/"Adults are in Charge" administration?

Bush was playing frikkin' guitar. Condi was buying shoes. Cheney was buying his third or fourth mansion and STAYED on vacation for another week!

And FEMA? Michael f***in' Brown? Two words: Negligent Homocide.

This can't be my country, Lord, no it just CAN'T BE."
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The French Quarter survived Katrina, but do you know what? Both clients have moved. One to Memphis and the other to Jackson, MS. They are not coming back. The guy in Ocean Springs says that he has been fighting the insurance company for 2 years. The house he and his wife had for 12 years is still just a concrete slab. Kids have moved off, they left the beloved beagle dog with the vet when they evacuated for Katrina, but the vet's place disappeared along with his pup Charlie. They are just tired. They have given up. He is a financial advisor and two years later he has not heard from 3 clients. They are trying to pick up their destroyed lives too.

Bushie is in NOLA today mouthing platitudes. Strutting and pooching his lips in concern. But he doesn't give a shit.

Maybe our country is in the same spot. The Bush disasters have been legion. No one is in jail, no one has paid the price. Michael Brown is an emergency management consultant now. We are exhausted.

But me? You? At least we have your homes. For now.

-Prodigal Son