I want my mommy!
Two years ago, Katrina ripped through the Gulf. The damage left behind is still apparent and well documented, so I will spare you a recount. But now we have a new name to fear, a new name to loathe, Gustov.
Every hurricane season, I cringe. A nervous energy settles into my bones. Every bit of laughter is slightly hysterical, sleep is disturbed and uneven. My mother, my sister, my niece. My aunt, and my uncle all call Louisiana home.
Two years ago, after Katrina it was five long and unbearable days before I could get ahold of my mother. This time, as if throwing the bird at Gustov, my mother has chosen this weekend to move from Lafayette to Shreveport. Nothing would make me happier, in truth, than to see a moving truck show up outside my door and to see the three women I love most in life, hop out.
I understand the draw of the Gulf. I understand the pull my mother felt to go there after marriage fell apart. To go home. To be in those places where her Daddy held her hand when she was little, where she and her sisters caused grief and joy for my grandmother. Just every season, the blackness rolls in, the seas get turbulent and unruly. Every season, there is another new name to loathe. This year it’s Gustov.
Paige, Megan, Maypole, Queen, Lance….and for the others who live in the path I am thinking of you and holding you and yours in my thoughts and prayers. A guest bedroom and corn muffins await you in Arizona. Head on over.
edited to add: I apparently live under a rock. I wasn’t aware there were so many Texas evacs. Julie, Kyla, Jenny, Briana anyone else I haven’t named…I love you and I am thinking of you.
August 30th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Me, too. I’m thinking of all of them, too.
And you.
August 30th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
We got that Red Cross email requesting help . . . my husband was there for Katrina. I wish I could go . . . damned timing sucks. But yes, they are in my heart and thoughts continuously. We cannot stand by and watch our own people suffer like that again. Not again.
August 30th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I am holding you and your family in prayer.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I hope your family stays safe, too. I hate hurricane season.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Sending you and yours, all the others what’s remaining of my good karma.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Oh Flutter, your family is in my thoughts and prayers, as are all the folks down there. As we sit, glued to the weather channel, waiting for the storm and hoping for the best, all I can think is “not again”. I can’t imagine what is going through people’s minds as they prepare for the unknown. Sometimes mother nature can really be a bitch.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
your family, and everyone there, is in our prayers. i have no loved ones there and i’m nervous about it, we’re watching the weather channel right now. this can’t happen again, can it?
August 30th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Hope all stay safe.
Can you float a corn muffin on the griddle for me? I’ll be there in the a.m.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Thank you, Christine, and all of you, for all of your thoughts, prayers and concern for the safety of all of us in the Gulf Coast region, as this monster Gustav threatens this area with havoc in the next few days. I, too, have been watching The Weather Channel and other local Mississippi and New Orleans television stations to get the latest update news and other information about Gustav. Most of us are anxious, I think, as this approaches, but have faith, our preparations, and your prayers and thoughts to see us through this trying time.
I’m trying to keep updates on my site, but during the next 2-3 days, that will depend upon what happens to the phone and cable lines here.
Thank you again, and God Bless you all! I will continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers, too.
Coast Rat – Lance
August 30th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
My family WAS in New Orleans – post Katrina many are now all scattered about and as luck would have it, one couple is in Bay St Louis MS. So I am happy to see the comment by Coast Rat and I will now bookmark that site as a place to see how Gustav impacts the area.
I also hate hurricane season. I hope your family is all safe.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I hope everybody’s well and safe.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Warm wishes and positive thoughts heading to all!
August 31st, 2008 at 2:23 am
Holding you, your family and all the people in New Orleans and surrounding areas in my thoughts, heart and prayer. God be with you.
August 31st, 2008 at 3:09 am
I sit here scared for all the people in Louisianna, evacuated (hopefully) and want to vomit when I read reports that say there aren’t any evac sites, that if someone stays in LA than they are on their own…WTF is that?
I hate hurricanes and hate even more, that this state in our country might be completely obliterated. Even after Katrina.
I’m sending positive thoughts and prayers for your family and all. xo
August 31st, 2008 at 3:36 am
How frightening for you. My thoughts are with you and your family. I know how it feels to have the people you love living somewhere dangerous, the fear grips your stomach and it doesn’t leave.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:24 am
All best wishes.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:49 am
saying a prayer, crossing my fingers and sending strength to you and your family and friends. be safe.
August 31st, 2008 at 5:52 am
my cousin jamie and her family lost their home in bay st. louis, ms that day. all the best to all.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:00 am
Well, I am up in ATL, but I have plenty of kin in NOLA I’ve been trying to reach; one of them left me a message that they intended to stay. I promptly left her a message that she needed to get the hell out of there because it looked like this sucker was going to blow. I haven’t heard from her since, but my heart aches that this could happen to this city I love so much. I know Queenie, meanwhile, is hunkered down in BR…so…yeah, I’m nervous.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:15 am
Oh! Keeping fingers crossed that Mom, Sis, and Niece are Ok!
So scary… please keep us posted!
August 31st, 2008 at 8:33 am
This has been so hard to watch on the news, knowing that people are fleeing for their lives. I hope your family stays safe too.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:43 am
I’m nowhere near Gustav but I could sure use some corn muffins (cough cough cough)…
August 31st, 2008 at 9:08 am
Flutter – to everyone in those areas – I hope every single person everywhere is untouched x
August 31st, 2008 at 9:58 am
If your mom is in Shreveport she’ll be safe, it’s far enough inland. We’re only an hour inland here and even though a direct hit would be scary as hell, we’d be fine I’m sure.
I’m praying a lot today for everyone in the path of Gustav, and for it to just peter out to a little bitty gust of wind if possible.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:03 am
Tis the season to wring our hands and watch the Weather Channel. We’ve been lucky so far this year – nothing but a little rain – but the poor Gulf! It just doesn’t seem fair they’re getting it again, does it?
Our door is always open to anyone who needs a safe port, btw – but it’s blueberry muffins here, versus Flutter’s corn ones.
Cross your fingers, cross your toes, and pray for the folks in the Gulf, who are getting ready for the old one-two punch.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Oh, I hate it, too. My family all lives in Houston while I’m out in LA.
I do hope your family members are all safe!
Love.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Good luck all.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I am not an evacuee, but I live in a town where they come for safety, down the road from Shreveport, into Texas. Prayers are sent from this spot to everyone in Gustav’s path & to all their families & friends. Shreveport will get rain & wind, as will we, but we will be safe, as will they. And all fingers are crossed that this will not be as bad as it looks to be.
We are already seeing busloads of people from SE Texas & New Orleans, and we are hours away – it’s hard to conceive that people must come this far to find a place to stay. So many people. Motels here have been totally booked for days.
Take care all.
Debi
August 31st, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Thinking and praying for all those who are in this monsters path. My girlfriend and her family left town a couple days ago and Jody from our site is in Texas and is packing as I write.
Blessings and safety to you all.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
i know. i KNOW. all of them. i know. i don’t know what to do.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
They are in my thoughts. I keep checking in with the news.
Wishing safe travel/move for your mom.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:33 am
God knows how much your missed.
I know what’s it’s like it has been too long.
I know, I know, you know. Be safe, the rain will be over soon.
You will again see the sunrise
September 1st, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for your kind thoughts you sweet sweet person!
September 1st, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I’m always amazed this time every year at how many people brave these areas that might be hit. I thought today of my father-in-law who lived in Louisianna last year for the season but died this past winter. I had a weird thought, Well, at least he’s safe. Um, well…
But yes, hope all is well for everyone else!
Dude, you’re not in Toronto! You’re in Arizona? I’ve been totally envisaging you in Toronto. I thought you moved back to Canada. I’m all befuddled!
September 1st, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I’ve got peeps in S.Louisiana too. Several who evacuated. A few who stayed it out. Thankfully Gustav lost some of his predicted gusts but it isn’t over yet where my family is. Glad you mom is moving to higher ground. Hurricane after hurricane can suck the life out of a person.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
How very scary. Is everything ok, now?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
I saw on the news last night that it wasn’t as bad as first thought. Still, they were talking about storm surges and the like. I hope your family fared well.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
if you’re inviting the bloggess over, i’d have some tarps ready. lay some plastic down on your couches.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
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September 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
My good friend’s mom lived through Katrina–she sat on her balcony until some one rescued her. They couldn’t rescue her dog, though.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
just now reading this (back home and safe!)… thanks.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
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