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No, John, No
Aug. 9th, 2006 06:47 pmA friend snapped.
Photographer, researcher, historian, tourguide, amateur musician -- real good at all of 'em.
A year ago we got a band together, rehearsing weekly at his house. We elected him the leader, as exuding the most maturity and leadership.
We rehearsed, and our tryout went well. Our second regular gig would have been the day of the mandatory evacuation.
The day after that, the London Avenue Canal levee failed 2 blocks from his house, putting 10 feet of water and a half foot of silt in it.
He stayed in town through the storm and aftermath working for the Picayune.
He looked understandably harrowed when I first got back in town. The Picayune gave him a vacation.
More recently I'd thought he'd been doing better.... well...
Like much of the city who didn't have the savings or weren't able to swing a loan to repair or rebuild out of pocket, he was waiting for the fabled money supposedly coming from insurance companies &/or FEMA. He said constantly trying to contact them and doing paperwork in Post-K NOLA was "like doing your taxes every day", an apt line which I've passed around.
...and...
Times-Picayune article
New Orleans LiveJournal thread
I sure as hell didn't expect something like this.
Maybe he'll be back some day. I hope.
We shall see.
[edit 7:15, 10 Aug: Since his story has since gotten over the national media, I'm changing this from a friends-only to a public post. Sigh. ]
Photographer, researcher, historian, tourguide, amateur musician -- real good at all of 'em.
A year ago we got a band together, rehearsing weekly at his house. We elected him the leader, as exuding the most maturity and leadership.
We rehearsed, and our tryout went well. Our second regular gig would have been the day of the mandatory evacuation.
The day after that, the London Avenue Canal levee failed 2 blocks from his house, putting 10 feet of water and a half foot of silt in it.
He stayed in town through the storm and aftermath working for the Picayune.
He looked understandably harrowed when I first got back in town. The Picayune gave him a vacation.
More recently I'd thought he'd been doing better.... well...
Like much of the city who didn't have the savings or weren't able to swing a loan to repair or rebuild out of pocket, he was waiting for the fabled money supposedly coming from insurance companies &/or FEMA. He said constantly trying to contact them and doing paperwork in Post-K NOLA was "like doing your taxes every day", an apt line which I've passed around.
...and...
Times-Picayune article
New Orleans LiveJournal thread
I sure as hell didn't expect something like this.
Maybe he'll be back some day. I hope.
We shall see.
[edit 7:15, 10 Aug: Since his story has since gotten over the national media, I'm changing this from a friends-only to a public post. Sigh. ]
