1 dead in attic
As I was in the Tulane bookstore last weekend I saw this book at the checkout counter and thought it looked interesting so I went ahead and bought it. I wasn't expecting really that much from it since I had never heard of it. And I really don't have an eye for a good book. I also thought it would be a good purchase since all the proceeds were going to ARTDOCS and the Tipitina's Foundation which is a music and art organization. Anyways, I ended up picking up the book & on the drive home finished the whole book. This is really something that I never do, especially all in one sitting. It was so interesting to read about the stories that this particular journalist went through and the stories he compiled from other survivors. It brought back major memories living in the "big easy" and some of the corky things New Orleaneans do. For instance have you ever heard of any one "making groceries?" When I first heard that while I lived there I thought that was an interesting phrase that made no sense. Well, in N.O. that means going to the grocery store. At the same time it was very touching and heart wrenching to see what some of the people went through first hand during the hurricane. In the introduction of the book he wrote an interesting synopsis about Louisiana. I think it was actually a circulating email at one time. It reads:
Dear America,
"I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South Louisiana.
We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we apologize for that, but we never were much for waiting around for invitations. We're not much on formalities like that.
And we might be staying around your town for a while, enrolling in your schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a few things about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither did we, so we're just going to have to make the best of it.
First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your food, your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of your National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else who has come to our rescue.
We're fiercely proud and independent people and we don't cotton much to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept help when we need it. And right now, we need it.
Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around to fishing again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work best in your waters.
We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way.
You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange music and eat things you'd probably hire and exterminator to get out of your yard.
We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and frankly, we're suspicious of others who don't.
But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town.
Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South Louisiana with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we bury our dead in LSU sweatshirts......."
"When you meet us now and look into ours eyes, you will see the saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand pieces.
But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After all we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to count for something............"
So, if you get the chance order a copy. It is pretty interesting and goes toward a good cause.
Dear America,
"I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South Louisiana.
We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we apologize for that, but we never were much for waiting around for invitations. We're not much on formalities like that.
And we might be staying around your town for a while, enrolling in your schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a few things about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither did we, so we're just going to have to make the best of it.
First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your food, your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of your National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else who has come to our rescue.
We're fiercely proud and independent people and we don't cotton much to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept help when we need it. And right now, we need it.
Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around to fishing again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work best in your waters.
We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way.
You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to strange music and eat things you'd probably hire and exterminator to get out of your yard.
We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and frankly, we're suspicious of others who don't.
But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town.
Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South Louisiana with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we bury our dead in LSU sweatshirts......."
"When you meet us now and look into ours eyes, you will see the saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand pieces.
But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After all we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to count for something............"
So, if you get the chance order a copy. It is pretty interesting and goes toward a good cause.
