Home Is Where the Hat Is
…and, for now, it’s Dallas.
I have no idea when they’ll start letting us back into New Orleans. Given the condition of my neighborhood, it should be next week. Given the condition of the city has a whole, it should be 2006. The reality will likely be someplace in between.
I started to post yesterday about the overall situation with the evacuees — thousands of us out on the road and looking for a place to land. An entire culture on the move. In one place on this forum, I saw us compared to those waiting in Casablanca for the plane to Lisbon. That’s as apt as any, since there’s an element in us that’s not going to be happy until we get out of where we are and back where we belong. Where we are is safe — and that’s exactly what’s wrong with it.
Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for. New Orleans is, as much as New York and a few other cities, a combination of the terrible, the unique and the sublime. Often all in the same room and sharing the same table.
In other threads, some have criticized me for not doing the “safe” thing and just staying the hell out of town until all this settles out a bit more. To take that a step farther, it would be to criticize the entire population for living in an area below sea level, with a high crime rate and terrible public schools. That’s not for a lot of folks and that’s fine for them.
But, over the past nine months, I have learned it’s better to be Out There in a city that’s Out There. We know we’re crazy — and sometimes it’s the company of crazies that keeps us from going completely insane.
Some won’t be returning, either because they can’t or because it’s just not in them anymore. But for the rest of us, we’ll wave at each other on the road and huddle in excited groups when we happen to run into each other until we can all go back.
Forgive us. It ain’t nuthin’ but a pahty, y’all. And it’s only temporary.
Related posts:
My older brother works for Tulane University and he is moving back in just a few days to start rehabilitating the uptown campus - they’re housing them in Metairie while that’s going on. It might not be nearly as long as the half a year estimate by Nagin and Blanco.
Looks like we’re moving to Dallas as well. We need to organize a regular gathering of displaced New Orleanians. We can sit around, drink Abita and talk about how much Dallas sucks compared to home.
oh you gotta get back in there ASAP..I know that city will shine again sooner than people think!
I’ve had an ongoing argument with 2 republicans now for two days spouting off on how tax payers money shouldnt be used to rebuild new orleans .. HELLO? the people in new orleans ARE TAXPAYERS! there should be NO question about it!
give gov’t power, they keep that power and will use it..and not just in new orleans… they think if the american people allow the gov’t to decide not to rebuild, that the gov’t wont ever use that power on their cities. no, their city may never be decimated by a hurricane, but theres a lotta levees and dams in the country that if they broke a lot of cities would be wiped out. not to mention tornados, floods from rain, wild fires, blizzards, etc.
geez its like some people think the south is an entirely different country.. i thought that war was fought and lost years ago!?
OK.. small rant over ..
stay safe in dallas, hopefully you’ll be home sooner rather than later.
I lean a little towards Republican but vote dem if the dem is better so I am not hardcore…
anyways,
I think it’s our responsibility as a country to do what is necessary for fellow citizens. Period. We would expect and hope for the same if disaster hit the rest of us.
11 senators or representatives or whoever voted No on the 50 billion for relief. One was a NC representative and she is now getting all kinda hell over it and coming up with excuses for why she did it. Everyone I know here is doing anything they can to donate or volunteer where needed and we are shocked at her. The last thing this disaster needs is more freakin delays.
I hope you find a welcome home where you are and get your city rebuilt without all the BS we’ve seen from all government in the last 2 weeks.
May we never forget.
Great post, Craig. Sentiment among refugees that I’ve talked to in Columbus seems to be that “in-country” will occur sooner across the board than predicted by elected officials, mainly because they have to play a big game of CYA at this point.
The country needs a New Orleans, and for that reason alone, it will thrive again. Perhaps with better storm protection, perhaps not. At the least, I would expect building code standards to take a huge leap forward.
Most of my immediate family and friends are West Bankers, and to my knowledge, no one wants to relocate elsewhere, though that may end up not being completely under their control. The fact that the West Bank was spared the flood damaged seems to have little to do with it. Home is where the heart is, and when you grow up in New Orleans, the heart is there. Whether that’s true in a couple of decades remains to be seen; the complete destruction of neighborhood after neighborhood may make New Orleans as bland as the suburban areas of many large southern cities. “Little boxes, on the hillside, little boxes made of ticky tacky.” Never got that song til I did some traveling. You can’t tell suburban Orlando from Suburban Houston from suburban Atlanta from suburban Dallas from suburban Miami except for some minor variations in terrain and ethnicity.
Can someone explain to me why these guys are donating 100% of their “I heart NOLA” t-shirts to themselves? Am I missing something, or is this horribly offensive? As a fellow NOLA evacuee, I wouldn’t think of exploiting such a tragedy for personal profit. Perhaps what offends me is that at first glance, one would think that profits go to some sort of REAL charity.
To T. Furgison,
I think you will find the answer to your question at the phoenix metro blog. From my understanding metro bloggers from outside the city of New Orleans pulled together this benefit to support their fellow bloggers in New Orleans during their darkest hours. A kind and thoughtful gesture. A community of bloggers pulling together for to take care of fellow bloggers.
If you have been reading this blog throughout the catastrophe you will have noticed that the bloggers here have been vigilant in getting as much info out to people as possible and by posting important info and contacts and links thay have done much to help.
I can’t possibly speak for them, but from what I have read none of the bloggers that post here are half as concerned about themselves as they are about the victims, the devastation and their city. It seems unfair to even suggest that they are in anyway gaining anything from this horrible tradgedy. How could you possibly begrudge anyone any small amount of charity in the face of this disaster?
You might need glasses….because to me it reads perfectly clearly:
“A benefit for the metrobloggers in New Orleans. 100% of the profits are going directly to the New Orleans bloggers and their families.”
That could only be misleading to someone who can’t see properly.
Craig,
As always, a beautifully written post that helps those of us who are more removed from the immediate situation to begin to imagine how it might feel. Your city needs you and I hope the rebuilding process begins swiftly. Best to you,
Holly
Craig,
I seriously think New Orleans -at least parts of it- will be back before everyone thinks. I have it under good advice that the media is playing up the doom and gloom bit to jack up their ratings, and that maybe things aren’t as bad as they are leading the rest of the country to believe. Certainly the damage is bad, and there is contamination, but remember the media played up the whole “10,000 dead” angle until yesterday, and then they changed their minds.
I guess the thing is, we shouldn’t give up hope, we should look towards the future as a bright opportunity to make new Orleans -and Louisiana- a better place. If nothing else good comes out of this, at least the government will have to answer for the misuse of levee funds,for the neglect the poorer areas have endured, and all the other things that led to this tragedy.
Welcome to Dallas. We’re glad to have you! Dodie’s on Lower Greenville is run by a bunch of NO expats if you are in the mood for some reasonably good Cajun food. Probably not up to your standards but it’s better than Pappadeux chains.
Craig, I expect nothing less from true Orleanians. Go back. Do what ya’ gotta do to turn one of my favorite cities on the planet back into the scrumptious gumbo of a place it always has been. (And shoot anybody who tries to Disney-fy it!) Lagniappe love to all from Atlanta.
What an attitude!!!!!!! We open our hearts and homes to y’all. You’re welcome here.
I only hope I had the “gut wrenching” thank you and show of stength that you show…..”it’s only a pahty.”
I hope that when our time comes that you are there for us also……I know you will be. Human memory is short but, after going through what you have, not that short.
Welcome to Texas. We’re a big state with big hearted (for the most part) concern for our fellow neighbors.
Craig-
I’ve known you for a long time. I know what you’re made of. I’ve listened to your politics and heard about your passions. I know of your writing abilities but never in my life have I enjoyed listening to you. During this awful time I think your writing has never been better. Your attitude is WAY more positive than mine would ever be, I’ve already expressed that to both you and Kim.
I have NO DOUBT you two will return and be part of the rebuilding of this city. I also have no doubt that Nawlins will shine again.
Btw rebyj…the south is part of the same country but growing up in the north and living in the south for the past 21 years…the south is so unique. People in the north don’t get it. I could go on and on about the difference, but the most important part is how we (I say we because I’m now an adopted southerner) stick together. Because of that…I know the gulf coast will be strong again, with a lot of hard work….it’s passion for the south that keeps it going strong in spite of it all.
I think it’s time to quit the damn “blame game”…that does nothing but cause arguments, hurt feelings and stall out the progress. I hope we learn from this, as a country, and make sure it never happens again and all work together to raise this city and the gulf coast.
I’m glad you and Kim are happily hanging your hat safely in Dallas, for now. Thank you for keeping me updated as to your safety. I’m fortunate to be your friend.
Craig,
The “Dallas Sucks” comment is very tacky and uncalled for. Hello….looks like you had somewhere to go huh?
Texas hearts and hospitatily are as large as our very diverse state, but be careful, we are proud of who we are and our tempers are quite large too.
Remember, you didn’t come here on vacation, you were welcomed with open arms along with about 20 thousand other people who needed somewhere to go.
Oh…and Dodie’s IS the best by the way, as stated in another post.
~Kim
Oh, sorry, my post was directed at TODD; not Craig. My apologies.
Kim
Thank you. I would never say Dallas sucks. I was raised here (SMU and W.T. White High) and my mother and daughter live here.
…Craig
In the case of New Orleans ,,,Home is were the turd floats…
i’m a displaced swamp rat stuck in dallas too, for time being…. and i would say it sucks.
don’t you miss neighborhood coffee/bar/restaurant/grocery stores. they sure don’t have that here.
nice blog
hi, how are you!
k soleil
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