We had a tour guide who was flooded out in the aftermath of Katrina. He and his wife moved to San Diego and lived there, enjoying the wonderful weather, meeting new people and making a new life for themselves. They were happy. Or so they thought. About 18 months after the devastation, they were listening to a news broadcast of the reopening of a prominent facility; maybe it was the Super Dome. And his wife turned to him and said, “We need to go home.” And so they did. It took them 31 months to rebuild. They were scammed by contractors at least twice; the total amount of money involved in the scams was about $35,000. But, they came home and made a new life for themselves in their old neighbor. And again they are happy.
His brother-in-law has a different story. He also left to parts unknown to me and was happy. But, he too decided to come back. He just finished the rebuilding process 4 months ago.
So, Katrina was a long time ago. But, the wounds and the damage to people, property and families are still there, just below the surface. These two stories are the good ones, the positive ones. There are many other stories – that you can image as you drive through the city and see the vacant lots (where houses were demolished), the houses that need to be demolished, the house that were once happy homes that are now abandoned – that remain to be written.
This city is forever changed. And I am not sure it will ever be what it
used to be. But, it will find its place
and it will be a happy city again – someday.
