Wayne Boatwright wrote:

>
> It sounds like a very bittersweet experience, Heather. I used to have
> family in Metairie, but they had moved away years ago. Despite all the
> television coverage, I still cannot imagine what it must still be like.
>

there are still huge parts of the city without power. Over where the levee
failed there was a house in the street, moved by the force of the water. Trees
everywhere, trash everywhere. The cars abandoned on the freeway are still
there.

David's family is slowly rebuilding he lower level of their house. Luckily
insurance covers everything, but the process is slow and frankly rather
demoralizing. David is still down there helping to install the new flooring.
The insurance would pay for contractors, but if they waited for contractors
they'd be waiting for years.

The strangest thing I saw was when we took the canoe out. His parents live on
the bayou and as we turned a corner at what would be the end of their block
there was a back hoe. A GIANT back hoe, half in the swamp, all beat up. No one
knows where it came from, there's no path through the trees, they can't figure
it out. Of course I stupidly forgot my camera and did not want to turn back as
the sun was going to set soon and we had to get out to David's Island and I
did not want to be in the swamp after dark.

--
..:Heather:.
www.velvet-c.com
Step off, beyotches, I'm the roflpimp!