New Orleans........

Well.....yesterday was a very busy day. I actually made my way back to Gretna......the Westbank of New Orleans......it was not a pleasant event.

It took 2 1/2 hours to get there because we had to travel back roads the whole way and the bridge to the Westbank is not being used by anyone other than emergency people and the trucks and crews trying to repair electric lines, phone lines and etc. I took I-10 to LA 22 to LA 70 to LA 1 to LA 90 and then finally after being directed by a policeman, made my way to my apartment. Fortunately the person I was traveling with had a pretty good idea where we were going and how to get there.....also......since he works on the Westbank, we were able to get his company vehicle and use it to put as much of my belongings in it as we could along with filling up my little car!

We got into my apartment and found that although some of the windows were compromised the damage was not as bad as some places. The cathedral ceiling and the wall in the dining room/living room area was falling in......insulation everywhere........the tall window was blown.....the windows in the bedroom were pulling away from the wall on the outside.....mold and mildew everywhere......it was quite a mess but at least I was able to get the vast majority of my stuff! I lost a few things.....pots and pans that had begun to rust because of the humidty......leather shoes and handbags that had begun to grow......some clothing that had gotten wet and begun to mildew already.......I checked on the apartment of one of my friends that lived in the apartment below me and had to evacuate to the hospital that she works at and found that it was in pretty good shape. I had not heard from her since we evacuated.....fortunately one of our other friends took her little doggy 'cause she couldn't take it to the hospital with her. I finally got a call from her. She is safe and sound and in Oklahoma.......she didn't get out of the Westbank until Wednesday! Her little dog is in Texas but at least she is safe!

It is really eerie and weird to be in the city now. This is a place where there is always activity and people moving around. It was so quiet! All you see and hear is the helicopters....the military vehicles are all over the place! There are quite a few people that are staying on the Westbank. They don't want to leave their homes, that's all they have left now. But the entire area looks like a war zone! Sounds like one too......in the distance you can hear gunshots.......sirens......the 'copters.....and every so often you will hear the grief-stricken voice of a person that has lost their home.....the screams and the tears.......it just breaks my heart! So many people that have lost everything! No job, no home, no car and worries about when they might be able to replace those things!

Well.....I just wanted to let everyone know that I was able to get most of my things (I couldn't fit all my books!) and let everyone know I was okay. I am looking forward to seeing my family when the babies are christened next week! It will be so great to just hold on to those precious little things and just let their warm baby smiles and the sweet baby breath warm and rejuvenate me! Thanks to all for the words of encouragement!