Dammit….
Know what I miss?
My zydeco. My button accordion. I can’t play it for shit, but I have a good time trying.
My boots. I’m a Texas native, dammit, and I left my well-worn boots. In the closet. Dumb damn me. Texas stuff with Louisiana shit on it. If that ain’t allegory, I don’t know what is.
Walking up to the Spur station at Washington and Magazine. I don’t know any names of the folks who run it, but they’ve always been friendly to me.
The Parasol, up the street. I didn’t go that much, but it’s always there. Once power is restored, it’ll be one of the first places to open back up.
Bud’s Broiler.
The Friday paper, with the Lagniappe section.
Smelling red beans cooking someplace while I’m sitting at the light at Broad and Canal.
‘Big Cat’ BBQ. Voodoo BBQ.
CC’s. Not because I went there much. But because they’re everywhere.
The free jukebox at Igor’s Garlic Clove. It’ll be one of the first places I go once power’s back on.
The smell of old grease and new newspaper in the St. Charles Tavern at 5am.
Damn.
Related posts:
Please post this. I just posted it on NOLA.com’s Orleans Parish forum message board. It is GOOD NEWS and bears repeating.
This is a direct report from relative who is fireman on West Bank. Talked to him at 8:15 P.M. CT 9/2. He checked on 2 houses and says damage in New Aurora, Brighton St, minimal (wind damage). Damage minimal (tree down on roof, but not through roof) on Howard St, off Gretna Blvd between Lapalco & West Bank Expy. This is behind the Home Depot. He works at the Bocage firestation (Woodland & Carlisle) and will be going to work there tomorrow. Looting not widespread, though most stores have been emptied. Police presence noticeable. Entergy trucks at work.Best to all.
God, I miss Parasol’s.
Help change the one of the problems….
http://www.petitiononline.com/help829/petition.html
Lets keep the guard at home except for a real war.
Thought you might be interested that Whitley Streiber got and posted this note from a doctor from Somewhere in there…. copied/posted through from London, Ontario from another one of the ‘other’ approx. 5,999,500 people who wish you all well - maybe the world can become a smaller place… Barry
02-Sep-2005 http://www.unknowncountry.com/mindframe/opinion/
A Doctor Speaks Out from Inside New Orleans
This account from a doctor (pathologist) in New Orleans puts an even more “human face” on what we’ve been watching on the news…
Aug. 31, 2005
Thanks to all of you who have sent your notes of concern and your prayers. I am writing this note on Tuesday at 2 p.m.. Be advised that almost everything I am telling you is from direct observation or rumor from reasonable sources. Personally, my family and I are fine. My family is safe in Jackson, Miss., and I am now a temporary resident of the Ritz Carleton Hotel in New Orleans. I figured if it was my time to go, I wanted to go in a place with a good wine list.
Things were obviously bad yesterday, but they are much worse today. Overnight the water arrived. The first floor of all downtown buildings is underwater. I have heard that Charity Hospital and Tulane are limited in their ability to care for patients because of water.
The city now has no clean water, no sewerage system, no electricity, and no real communications. Bodies are still being recovered floating in the floods. We are worried about a cholera epidemic. Even the police are without effective communications. We have a group of armed police here with us at the hotel that is admirably trying to exert some local law enforcement. This is tough because looting is now rampant. Most of it is not malicious looting. These are poor and desperate people with no housing and no medical care and no food or water trying to take care of themselves and their families. Unfortunately, the people are armed and dangerous. We hear gunshots frequently. Most of Canal street is occupied by armed looters who have a low threshold for discharging their weapons. We hear gunshots frequently. The looters are using makeshift boats made of pieces of styrofoam to access. We are still waiting for a significant national guard presence.
The health care situation here has dramatically worsened overnight. Many people in the hotel are elderly and small children. Many other guests have unusual diseases. … There are (Infectious Disease) physicians in at this hotel attending an HIV confection. We have commandeered the world famous French Quarter Bar to turn into an makeshift clinic. There is a team of about seven doctors and PAs and pharmacists. We anticipate that this will be the major medical facility in the central business district and French Quarter.
Our biggest adventure today was raiding the Walgreen’s on Canal under police escort. The pharmacy was dark and full of water. We basically scooped the entire drug sets into garbage bags and removed them. All under police escort. The looters had to be held back at gunpoint. After a dose of prophylactic Cipro I hope to be fine.
In all we are faring well. We have set up a hospital in the the French Quarter bar in the hotel, and will start admitting patients today. Many will be from the hotel, but many will not. We are anticipating dealing with multiple medical problems, medications and and acute injuries. Infection and perhaps even cholera are anticipated major problems. Food and water shortages are imminent.
The biggest question to all of us is where is the National Guard. There is no Red Cross and no Salvation Army.
In a sort of clich
Thanks to blogging away at all the little details of your life. It might save a life or at least provide some surcease here.
PARASOL CONTACTS: trying to contact or learn whereabouts of Francis O’Rourke. Last heard from Monday 8/29 afternoon, he was attempting to find a way out of town or place to go. Francis use to work at Parasols, he’s about 5′10″ about 64 years old, white male, bald, tended to look ragged even on good days, lived on 3rd street, has a speech impediment. I can keep Francis in touch with his sisters Kathleen and Maureen.
I have been trying to establish internet contact to help my family and anyone else. Phone service from here in Lafayette to surrounding towns and to our friends and family in texas is spotty.
Francis lives across the street from us and is a friend. Our house backs up to his, um, junkyard.
He told us he was going to stay. If he did, aerial shots taken Wednesday indicate his place safe. All houses have roofs and were well away from any high water.
PLEASE let us know if you hear anything and we will do likewise.
…Craig
Thanks Craig.
Yep. Junkyard. That’s Francis. You have given us hope. I am touched.
Parasol’s is a favorite haunt of ours - if you guys hang out there a lot, you probably know my boyfriend, Owen (lawyer with dark brown hair and a goatee).
I’m glad Francis is safe. These days any small blessing brightens our days, right?
I have called Francis’ phone. It rang as per normal, but no answer. There is still some landline service in New Orleans, but it’s spotty at best. Not sure if he’s not there or if the phone isn’t ringing or if it’s a power issue or if, knowing Francis, he’s outside giving someone a hard time.
I’ll let y’all know if I hear anything. I have some calls out to some neighbors, if I can reach them.
…Craig
Just had call from Maureen O’Rourke. Salvation Army has contacted her. Francis is in Indianapolis, Indiana. She will call me back with more info, and email addresses to kin in texas.
Bless y’all
George
Congressman Cole’s office is helping line up/coordinate refugee housing in this part of the country (Oklahoma). Hi sdist-director, John Woods sent this along:
[quote]Keith - As you have first hand knowledge of individuals that suffered during Katrina please know that if any of these individuals treck into OK we have contacts for potential housing. We’re working with USDA rural development and HUD to identify housing availabilities. Feel free to direct anyone to our office.
John Woods
District Director
Congressman Tom Cole
2420 Springer Drive, Suite 120
Norman, OK 73069
(405)329-6500
[/quote]
Also, I’ve got this info linked up at [b][color=red][url=http://soonerpolitics.com]SoonerPolitics.com[/url][/color][/b] along with some room to post information for refugees you’re trying to find.
Link it up, pass it on.
Please.
Keith
Francis is in INDIANAPOLIS????
I can’t wait to hear this story.
Thankyouthankyouthankyou.
If we’re back first, I’ll let you know about his house and the neighborhood up close.
…Craig
Had to make my previous post about Francis quickly, between the errands and tasks of keeping life here normal for my family. Was just leaving and heard someone in the house call out that Maureen was on the phone.
In the spirit of this medium, allow me to elaborate.
Yes, the Story of Francis O. will be one for… well, this is Nawlins. In the last message we had from him, he was considering the option of walking up the Tchoupitoulas ramp to where buses would be waiting to evacuate him.
The phone rings as I write… it’s Maureen: Francis will fly to Houston, arriving tomorrow before tiffin. Will be with Maureen. Now have an email address for Maureen…
the saga continues
George
I’m forwarding this from Matthew Luce: (How Francis got out)
_______________________________________________________
At 6am Wednesday he started walking. He just arrived.
According to Uncle Francis, he received instruction from the radio or
somewhere that all remaining people in the city should make there way to the
Tchoupitoulis on-ramp. From there they would be evacuated. (He also threw in
there that someone took a pot shot at him on Tuesday, so he made up his mind
to leave.) No one came to get him so he crossed the bridge to the westbank
and walked all the way to the Harvey bridge. A policeman stopped him, told
him he needed to return to the shelter (I guess he thought he was in a
shelter in Westwego, and “returned” him to that shelter.) There he had a
place to sleep, he was fed well, and he had air conditioning.
Not sure when, but planes that were flying supplies into New Orleans where
empty for their return trip, so they started to load them up with people to
get them out. Somehow, he got in the wrong line and instead of going to
Houston with the other airlifts, he wound up in Indiana.
We booked a flight for him tomorrow morning, but I received a call from the
Salvation Army Captain that Uncle Francis had no picture ID on him, so that
will still need to be worked out so he can get on the plane.
So, to answer your question, he flew.
Matthew
How about the Maple Leaf out at the turn on the St. Charles line…I love that spot. Anyone know?
There was always that last coma-inducing post midnight pub crawl with my brother… a joint near St Charles at Carrolton, with the rich smell of not-fully-stale beer where I saw a couple sharing a pitcher of stout, another bar on Magazine with college kids dancing to loud music, where we had massive burgers and deadly cheese fries and I looked down at the floor and wondered how it was legal to serve food there, the local pool sharp “entertaining” us. Many bars like this throughout the city were the proverbial “bar where I grew up” as George Carlin said.
Dixie Art Supply In the wearhouse district, nearby there was a place where I always smelled roasting coffee, (sharp and acrid, more like burning leaves) where there was always an employee or two sitting in an open loading-door, the company’s receptionist and doorkeeper.
I remember selling some of my paintings in the Pirates Alley show, being in the French Quarter before dawn without having been there since early the previous evening as was the usual case.
I worked at a wearhouse on Magazine near Lee Circle, and rode the streetcat or walked to canal, then walked to the ferry to go home to Algiers. Sometimes I would detour to a cigar store called The Epitome (of Fine Tobacco) on Royal St. (I think) My memory isn’t the best and it’s worse now.
It is amazing how the government hasnt pulled together and assisted the people of New Orleans. I was watching the aftermath of katrina and it was crazy how the president didnt open up the army bases and provide places for the people to stay. When go to war with every other country, but when its time to help ourselves…we turn our back….thats crazy….
“How about the Maple Leaf out at the turn on the St. Charles line…I love that spot. Anyone know?
Posted by: liz mclellan in NYC at September 3, 2005 10:39 PM ”
Liz…i just read that Maple Leaf is in dryer area and should be fine.
I am wondering how Utopia & Razoos fared. Anyone know? Praying that all employees and band members are okay… very special memories there — great people!
Diana
I am with an animal rescue in MD. We have 2 dogs that were rescued from in or near 919 Third St. and found that the address belongs to Francis. Does he or his neighbors own dogs-if so have him contact tails-of-hope.org. Please someone let me know how we can reach him.