Hi gang, I'm checking in from a motel's shared computer. About 80% of the guests were refugees from S. Louisiana so I have to fight with the kids and their games to get any air time.
First, some good news. Though I am still in Bessemer, Alabama (about 320 miles from home), I am safe as are wife & mother-in-law. I have also heard from each of the step-kids, they are safe and sound. Wifey looked awfully funny holding her breath that long, but now that she has exhaled, her color is returning to normal.
I also have learned that a keep-away order is in effect for my area until the downed power lines and such have been evaluated. But I know I have power at home because my answering machine picked up the phone. Which of course it won't do without power. So when we get back the fridge won't smell any worse than normal. (Wifey is over shoulder and I'm about to get whacked....)
My youngest step-daughter stayed put because she was on high ground, had a generator in-house for backup power, and was in a sturdy house. She has phoned in now and tells us it was no worse than an exceptionally bad, long-winded thunderstorm. The areas that flooded are the areas that always flood, no particular surprises. She will check around for us and let us know when the keep-out order is lifted. We are only about a half-day drive from home in good traffic. But there is no gas to be had. (Petrol for our UK friends.)
As to the earlier question of "why life in that area?"
You never know what will hit you, but every area has its dangers. New York City, Buffalo, Chicago, Minneapolis - deadly low-temperature blizzards. Central USA - tornado alley. West Coast? Earthquakes, brush fires, droughts. Gulf coast and lower East coast? Hurricanes - but we have warnings that allow us to evacuate in time. Ohio, Pennsylvania, S. Illinois - flooding occurs there, too. So... you pays your money and takes your chances. Colin, you have asked that question before and gotten the same answer. I live where I live because it is home, because my family is there, because my job is there. I am accustomed to the area's ... personality.
Not to mention, of course, New Orleans cuisine, music, and a laid-back attitude. For example, at this very motel, there is a "tailgate" party going on right now with refugees from Kenner, La. - just a few miles from my house. I asked them why they were partying. The answer - and it betrays the joie de vivre of the area: The power was out so the food in the fridge had to be eaten or pitched out. We said, "What the hell, let's have a party to celebrate our safe evacuation with our families intact." If you don't understand the depth of enjoyment of life that such an attitude expresses, you would not understand the draw of the area.
People think we party too much. They think we don't take life seriously. Au contraire, my friend. It is exactly because life is serious that we take time to party. Life is too short to always take it seriously and never have any fun.
As to who we are voting for or against in the coming election, we are still weighing the pros and cons. Both McCain and Obama have very good and very bad issues. In the final analysis, until we get in the booth and press the voting button, we won't know which way we will go. But then, that is American-style democracy in action.
For what it is worth, our governor, Mr. Jindal, is so very different from Ms. Blanco, who was in office during Katrina, that it is like night and day between the two of them. Bobby Jindal attracted attention today on the CNN programs as "having it together" and "keeping things moving in difficult times." He just put a gazillion feathers in his cap for helping to coordinate a 95%+ evacuation of an area of over two million in population. I don't know how many Gustav-related deaths we will have in our area, but we don't know of any local drowings so far. Of course, it will take a few days. Still, we CAN learn lessons, Colin and Rich. We have demonstrated that today. In the end, it is not the disasters you face, it is how you face them.
I have to yield the motel's computer to some others, so I'll go off the air again. But thanks, gang, for the kind wishes. Family is OK, kids are OK, house is at least semi-functional, and our area didn't take as much damage as first feared. All in all, a good result in a bad situation. Catch you in a few days when things settle down again.
Just try to get with it. I know you have retired but please make the effort not be an old f@rt
