We moved to a new home site today -- and did more traditional house-building activities. (I put up siding and did pretty well, though being on a 24-foot ladder all day is pretty nerve racking.) My sore body appreciated the change of effort.
But the new site was on one of those ghost streets where almost no one lives. Immediately next door was a home that has been totally destroyed. The water line for the house was about 7 or 8 feet high, with higher surges likely according to our team leader. (For perspective, the Lower 9th Ward across the Industrial Canal had 20-30 feet of water.) Peering in from the street, I could see the house was still full of its contents. At lunch, I went over and took these pictures from the front door.
Everything this family had has been destroyed, velvet tiger cub painting and all (h/t Audrey for the comments to correct me) - except for their Mardi Gras beads. There is a bowl on a table that looks like there was food in it. Their TV is slammed against the front door and laying on top of some pictures and books. Their washing machine is crushed like a Coke can. Oh, and the owner has a month to come back and claim the house or it will be destroyed. The family did all escape (per the markings on the side of the house) and they probably lost all their mementos of their life on Rocheblave Street. But all they can replace their material possessions.
Every single item...
3 comments:
I think those are tiger cubs in the velvet painting....?
Is this house next door to the new one you are working on? How hard must it be to be the first one to move back onto a ghost street...
What does tomorrow bring?
By sharing your experiences, you are bringing the impact of this tragedy much more to life for me than any newcast or article that I had watched or read previously.
I do, however, have to side with Audrey on the subject matter of the artwork.
Keep up the great work.
Okay, okay! The original I had was much smaller and the beads are in the way. I updated it.
Also, we talked with our team leader about being the first one to live on a ghost street. Apparently, it is a single father with 4 boys. He really wants to get out of his FEMA trailer and into a home. More importantly, he wants to help rebuild his neighborhood. Admirable to be sure!
Post a Comment