"...we part with tender relations stretching far behind us, that never can be exactly renewed..."
When the waters are finally pumped out, the shock of just how thorough and insidious the damage has been will become unbearably evident.
Great sentence that is.***************
When they taught us in grade school about the five regions of this country, they didn't tell us what they meant was that we really have five or more countries here. Having lived in at least three of them, I can see how the answer that works in Texas will not happen in "The Big Easy." Years of Huey Long Heritage linger in the humidity in the same way that Puritanism still runs rampant in the new cars that snobbishly drive their trash to the dumps in Massachusetts every Saturday.
Human beings are not rational when we speak of OUR homes, OUR families, OUR history. The sad part is most of us aren't even aware that we see only what we want to see.
Thank you Scott. There was so much information that I didn't know and good thinking that you crafted into something of beauty. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather go walking with you any day. But I appreciate the power and lucidity of your brain.
Liz
Liz:
Thank you for your kind, thoughtful comment. You do make a good point about the different mind sets of Texas and Louisiana. The people of Texas have a can-do, let's-get-it-done spirit, whereas the people of Louisiana are status quo. Instead of looking to the future, they'll look to the past to try and recapture what they lost. Even if they do succeed in rebuilding--and rebuilding it will be since most every building that stood in the water will have to be torn down--it still won't be quite the same.
Yes, itsn't it sad that what is often our charm is also our downfall . . .
It's true of strengths being our weaknesses, I've recognized that in myself for a while. I guess I've known that my "charm" can backfire. But I think this is a case where Southern charm and heritage could actually kill them. I wonder if I shoot myself in the same way on a smaller scale. Hmmmmmm.
Meanwhile, on another note: About the photographer story--a challenge from Rhein's phot. Q. Did you think the story too sweet? Did I hear that in the subtext of your comment?
Before the hurricane all I heard were fears for the French Quarter. It is, after all, the heart of New Orleans and the reason for the tourism that kept the city going. Now it has survived virtually unscathed while what has been inundated seems to be mile upon mile of typical American housing estate. I won't say the obvious...
Thanks, Clive
My poor, humble mind immediately filled in what followed your ellipsis.
Scot
well said
Great piece, Scot. When I was in New Orleans last year, the French Quarter was already a place largely reserved for tourists. Many of the natives we met said they never went there.
msdedi & Patry:
Thank you for visiting and commenting.
Scot
Interesting post.
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