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Aug. 31, 2005 As I write this, I am safe in my own bed with running water in my home and food and our personal belongings. I am also watching "Nightline" and seeing the pictures of Canal Street under two foot of water in the place that the reporter is standing. I have fond memories of Canal Street and Bourbon Street and many other streets in New Orleans, as the majority of my family is there and around the Biloxi area as well. It’s no secret that I love the New Orleans Saints. My best friend, Deborah, called me tonight to tell me that the Saints are in training in San Jose just blocks from her home. I was so jealous at first. And then I saw the water surrounding the Super Dome from Lake Poncentrian and I couldn’t help but wonder, would there be a New Orleans for the Saints to come marching back into after training season is over? With two levees damaged and most of I-10 under water, I wonder how they can rebuild the city when most of the pumps are damaged now. I remember many happy summers spent in New Orleans and the wonders of the city. Benets at Armond’s in Jackson Square, having my portrait painted in the same Jackson Square. Going to the Audubon Zoo and wandering around all day. Going to the Super Dome with my cousin and seeing Cheap Trick. And most of all, snow balls (that’s what they call snow cones down there) that were flavored just like wedding cake. I am frightened to think of what the battlefield of Chalamette will look like once the waters recede. I used to love going there and touring the general’s house and hearing of the Battle of New Orleans. I also used to love to hang out in the Neville Brother’s Jazz Club (it was all ages) and listening to some real jazz and drinking chickory coffee. Plus the Bar-B-Ques that were held, and the family reunions that went on for days at a time. I can still hear the zydeco music playing in my head as my uncles and cousins would bring in the shrimps and crabs off the boats for the feasts or fetes as they are called in the bayous. New Orleans is in a bowl shape, and they rely on the levees and water pumps to keep the city dry. But from what I have seen, many of the historical houses and many of the streets are damaged now. They said that many of the pumps are damaged. Even though Katrina marched in like a Saint, she left my city in the Bayous in treacherous conditions. I have heard of the stories of the living and the dead, but no one has mentioned the Audubon Zoo that is right on the levee of the mighty Mississippi River. What about those animals and that zoo that has existed for over 100 years? People’s lives have been destroyed, but what about the animal lives that are destroyed? The history of the city was threatened before by other hurricanes, but it seems that Katrina excelled where others failed. ------------ About the author: Kaycee Nilson has completed her first novel, "Night Falls on Chicago." The first two chapters can be viewed at http://www.KayceeNilson.com. Besides writing columns for Useless-Knowledge, Kaycee is currently working on two more novels, "From the Mind of a Vampire", and "I'll Love You Til You Die." If you have enjoyed what you read, or would like to leave Kaycee a message, please visit her message board at http://www.KayceeNilson.com/Board Email: Kaycee@kayceenilson.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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