What not to wear.

Never ever wear a dress when tropical storm force winds are in the forecast. I pulled a Marilyn Monroe….a much less sexy was more awkward Marilyn Monroe that is. Walking across campus my dress blew up and seriously covered my face. I felt the breeze on my buns. Luckily my dress has a belt at the waist or it might have flown right off. I don’t know what I would have done if my students were around, I am pretty sure for the rest of the year they would only be able to imagine me in my underwear.

Back in NOLA.

Courtney and I got up early Friday morning to begin our trek back home. It was a nice and fast drive, we were both very happy to be back and see for our own eyes that everything was really okay. When we got back our power was still out, our house roasting and our refrigerator smelling. Other than that it was just how we left it. I put my swim suit on to try to stay cool and we hit the fridge with our noses plugged and garbage bags in hand. It was so sad to throw so much stuff away, but we have to continue to remind ourselves that we are so lucky that food is all we lost...doesn't seem like such a big deal after all. That evening when I was lying on Courtney's bed trying not to move in order to stay cool our house seemed like a robot coming to life. Lights switched on, machines began to beep, the air started flowing....ahhhhh:)

We cleaned up the house, put things back on the porch and got settled in. Wilhelmina, Courtney and I went to a relaxing yoga class that was offered for free to Gustav evacuees. It was an interesting experience, one of those when I really feel a part of this community. I have felt that way a lot during this evacuation time...suddenly we all have something in common. Conversatiosns on the street and in the store flow easily, everyone seems to be much more open to talking and sharing their stories. This morning the three of us got up and went downtown to help volunteer. The busses have began to roll back into town with the evacuees who didn't have their own transportaion. And families in the city are still trying to survive without power and a very limited amount of grocery stores open! We packed up some food plates to hand out and later passed out MREs (Meals ready to eat) to those people who came by. An Army group from Kansas and Air Force New Orleans were working together on the project. Most seemed a little disinterested in our help, but after a lot of smiles they warmed up to us. We did help the line go about twice as fast. One man said all they needed was a few women to help these guys move it along...what would they do without us?

I am excited for a little bbq (or cookout as Court likes to "correct" me) we have planned for our place tonight. It should be great...good food, great friends, and no hurricanes!

Love.

Take Me Home

I missed a call while I was sleeping last night. The message went something like this, “Miss Sarah Jean Sullivan, this is ADT calling to inform you that your alarm system has been set off and we will be notifying the police, please give us a call back as soon as you can.” Knowing that Courtney was in the other room, Lizzy was in Tampa Bay, Mary Ellen (who just finished her summer sublet) was in Seattle, and Wilhelmina in Austin, my first reaction was panic. I called ADT back and then couldn’t given me much information just that the front door alarm as well as the motion sensor had both been set off at 6:50 this morning and that they had notified the police department. I asked what happened when the police came and the man told me that he actually didn’t even know if they went over to our house. Once they report it, it is up to the police department’s discretion whether they respond or not. So we call the NOPD and they tell us there is no way they can check for the status of the response because all their computers are down. Of course Courtney and I automatically imagine our house getting robbed for a second time. After a few more panic-filled calls we finally got a hold of our landlord who in fact was the man who broke into our house and he somehow didn’t have the code to the alarm system! I am so thankful that it was him and our house is safe. He let us know that our house is in good shape, no outside damage, but unfortunately we still don’t have power. No word on when it will come back on, so it looks like we wont be heading back home just yet.

I am ready to be back. I am ready to get things back in order. I cannot believe people live with the possibility of this happening several times every hurricane season. We got lucky this time, but many other cities are suffering in bad ways. Let us remember them and help in anyway we can.


"Rolling down the road
Going no where
Guitar packed in the trunk
Somewhere round mile marker 112
Papa started hummin the funk
I gotta jones in my bones before we know
We were singing this melody
Stop the car pulled out the guitar
Halfway to New Orleans

Said take me home
Take me home"

-Mark Broussard
"Home"

No more NEWS

Yesterday I got a call from one of my student's parents. She knew I had never evacuated for a storm and wanted to make sure I was out of the city, safe, and had a place to stay. It was so meaningful to me. I have been so worried about my students and their families. I have only had her son in my class for 2 weeks and only have had 2 or 3 converstations with her. What a wonderful and caring woman - a act of kindness that I will not forget.

Overall, I can't watch anymore. Thankfully Gustav is slowing down and things are not looking too bad on land, but Courtney and I have seen enough. Even with the good news it still works me up. We still have a few hours to go - praying that the levees are strong enough for the final surge.

Good Morning Fate.

Here we go. So far not too bad.