From columnist Chris Rose of The Times-Picayune www.nola.com
Dear America,
I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South Louisiana.
We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we apologize for
that, but we never were much for waiting around for invitations. We're
not much on formalities like that.
And we might be staying around your town for a while, enrolling in your
schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a few things
about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither did we, so we're
just going to have to make the best of it.
First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your food, your
prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of your National
Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else who has come to
our rescue.
We're a fiercely proud and independent people, and we don't cotton much
to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept help when we
need it. And right now, we need it.
Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around to fishing
again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work best in your waters.
We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way.
You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange music
and eat things you'd probably hire an exterminator to get out of your
yard.
We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too
much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we're
suspicious of others who don't.
But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town.
Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South Louisiana
with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we bury our
dead in LSU sweatshirts.
Often we don't make sense. You may wonder why, for instance - if we
could only carry one small bag of belongings with us on our journey to
your state - why in God's name did we bring a pair of shrimp boots?
We can't really explain that. It is what it is.
You've probably heard that many of us stayed behind. As bad as it is,
many of us cannot fathom a life outside of our border, out in that place
we call Elsewhere.
The only way you could understand that is if you have been there, and so
many of you have. So you realize that when you strip away all the
craziness and bars and parades and music and architecture and all that
hooey, really, the best thing about where we come from is us.
We are what made this place a national treasure. We're good people. And
don't be afraid to ask us how to pronounce our names. It happens all the
time.
When you meet us now and you look into our eyes, you will see the
saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand pieces.
But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After all,
we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to count for
something.
OK, maybe something else you should know is that we make jokes at
inappropriate times.
But what the hell.
And one more thing: In our part of the country, we're used to having
visitors. It's our way of life.
So when all this is over and we move back home, we will repay to you the
hospitality and generosity of spirit you offer to us in this season of
our despair.
That is our promise. That is our faith.
Wow, I really like that! It sounds like New Orleans to me.
Dear refugees in Atlanta--
I thought you might like a little update on the day-to-day changes wrought by the storm:
I read Chris Rose's column in the Times-Picayune a couple of days ago--yes, it is being published again and distributed. However, it is more like a high school newspaper than ever, as it is now only a couple dozen pages. Also, no ads!
Mail was delivered to the house yesterday. Elizabeth will be happy to know we have safely received her Banana Republic bill. I am unclear where the missing two weeks worth of mail went, but if it was important, I'm sure we'll learn about it. Fed Ex dropped off Jim's last poster while we were up on the roof replacing a tarp--quite surreal. As the other posters were delivered on the day we evacuated, do you suppose we have room to fuss over the tardiness?
Channel 4, WWL, has been broadcasting from the Louisiana Public Broadcasting station in Baton Rouge. Apparently, this gives license to the reporters and on air personalities to only wear their golf shirts--in these exigent circumstances, they simply do not have the time to buy a tie! Channel 6 has usurped channel 49 (whom I've never heard of), and has no less than three crawls running across the bottom HALF of the screen, one of which consists of pleas from viewers for friends and family to contact them. If it weren't for the the latter fact, I'd make a comment about how they are now truly "talking heads" (you can make out its humanoid, but they are relegated to such a small window one needs a big screen TV to be able to discern whether its a man or woman reporting). Channel 8, Fox, came on line last night from Mobile, testament to the need to be designated an emergency broadcasting station so you can get up and running far quicker. John Schnell felt compelled to show footage of the hurricane, now nearly two weeks old, simply because they haven't had the opportunity to do so earlier.
Jim and I will make our way to church this morning. As much work as we have ahead of us to get the house repaired, we know we remain truly blessed as it certainly could have have been immeasurably worse. My parents were there for us when we learned of the damage to our house, and the offers of support from my brother and sister helped make clear we didn't have to face this alone.
Those blessings include the wonderful help and hospitality by Katie and Kevin. They have always been wonderful hosts, and now their children have grown into that role--Lars refuses to let me sleep anywhere other than his room, despite working nearly every day himself. I can't ever say enough about Sue and Scott's hospitality in Atlanta, either, where the rest of our clan remains. The expressions of support from Minnesota mean so much to all of us, as well--there is tremendous comfort in knowing safe harbor exists elsewhere.
Taking a line from the most recent Harry Potter book, it was a lucky day when I married into this excellent family.
That was a neat column Christina. And, once things are back in order I do plan to visit again! Scott, thanks for the update. Jimmy may not be in school, but he is getting an education of a lifetime, not to mention special bonding with his dad. As I've said before, you all are truly blessed to belong to such a special family. Love, Carol