Pia's Nest: Home, Musty Home.

October 17, 2005

Home, Musty Home.

Malcolm and I slept in our own bed this weekend, in our New Orleans house, because the power finally got turned on. Still no gas, and the neighborhood is empty. All of the homes north of our street were destroyed in the levee breach, a part of town called Lakeview. You have to drive into Jefferson parish to get food and gas. City Park by Marconi Boulevard is crammed with hundreds of haul-away trucks and their drivers, who've set up a small city of RVs, tents, hammocks. Storm chasers from other states who will, they say, make 3.5 million trips to the dump. Where will all of the debris go? That's not a path I want to follow. On West End Boulevard, tree branches and stumps have been piled up seven stories high, a hundred feet across. Across the street from our house, someone's dumped a black refrigerator, bound it tight with silver duct tape. It's going to be a long time before I take twice weekly garbage pickup for granted again.

Our street is on a narrow ridge, and the water came as far as our sidewalk. People a block over had water. We are lucky, and grateful, also guilt-ridden, self-conscious, isolated, and uneasy. Our home faces a park. The landscape looks different and it's hard to put your finger on why because the old picture is gone. There's more light, blue sky where tree branches were, no birds darting around, no birds singing. What do they know that we don't? What's it going to take to get them back? Jump in, birds! I've got your back! As soon as I can move home from Houston.

hosted by Pia, posted by pia
permalink :: songs { there are 10 } :: sing to me :: feed me

10 Songs:

This is a heartbreaking and hopeful account, Pia. I hope you and the birds are back home soon.

a song by Myfanwy Collins, recorded at 6:41 AM

Myf is right--heartbreaking and hopeful. It must be incredibly eerie to see so much change.

a song by katrina, recorded at 7:25 AM

Good luck, Pia. My heart goes out to you (and the birds).

a song by Mary Akers, recorded at 8:29 AM

this is so sad, and very eerie, please let us know when you see or hear a bird.

a song by Patricia, recorded at 3:18 PM

Good luck, Pia and stay well. xox Katie

a song by Katie, recorded at 10:53 AM

This is such a Pia account. I wish you would write a long story about all of this. Only you can put heart and soul into this tragedy

I love this place. I will come more often

Deb Ann I.

a song by Deb, recorded at 10:35 AM

This is such a Pia accounting, so real and honest. I would love to read a story by you on this experience.

I love this place. I will come more often

Deb

a song by Deb, recorded at 10:36 AM

Your description of the alterations in the light and the color of the sky, the absence of birds, says so much. Like the previous singer, I'm always richly rewarded when I visit your nest.

a song by Patry Francis, recorded at 8:50 AM

Best regards from NY! statin drugs blood sugar levels Presige car alarm Cisco csa affiliate guide marketing Fiber back hair weight loss fat shaving High cholesterol caused by sugar

a song by Anonymous, recorded at 7:12 AM

I am off to buy the book today! Cannot wait. I am thrilled for you.
I didn't do the amazon.com because I want to ask for it at the indie book store. Make sure they have it!

Deb Ice

a song by debbie ann ice, recorded at 5:25 AM

sing to me

recently

aviary




					October 17, 2005 Home, Musty Home. Malcolm and I slept in our own bed this weekend, in our New Orleans house, because the power finally got turned on. Still no gas, and the neighborhood is empty. All of the homes north of our street were destroyed in the levee breach, a part of town called Lakeview. You have to drive into Jefferson parish to get food and gas. City Park by Marconi Boulevard is crammed with hundreds of haul-away trucks and their drivers, who've set up a small city of RVs, tents, hammocks. Storm chasers from other states who will, they say, make 3.5 million trips to the dump. Where will all of the debris go? That's not a path I want to follow. On West End Boulevard, tree branches and stumps have been piled up seven stories high, a hundred feet across. Across the street from our house, someone's dumped a black refrigerator, bound it tight with silver duct tape. It's going to be a long time before I take twice weekly garbage pickup for granted again. Our street is on a narrow ridge, and the water came as far as our sidewalk. People a block over had water. We are lucky, and grateful, also guilt-ridden, self-conscious, isolated, and uneasy. Our home faces a park. The landscape looks different and it's hard to put your finger on why because the old picture is gone. There's more light, blue sky where tree branches were, no birds darting around, no birds singing. What do they know that we don't? What's it going to take to get them back? Jump in, birds! I've got your back! As soon as I can move home from Houston. hosted by Pia, posted by pia permalink :: songs { there are 10 } :: sing to me :: feed me 10 Songs: This is a heartbreaking and hopeful account, Pia. I hope you and the birds are back home soon. a song by Myfanwy Collins, recorded at 6:41 AM Myf is right--heartbreaking and hopeful. It must be incredibly eerie to see so much change. a song by katrina, recorded at 7:25 AM Good luck, Pia. My heart goes out to you (and the birds). a song by Mary Akers, recorded at 8:29 AM this is so sad, and very eerie, please let us know when you see or hear a bird. a song by Patricia, recorded at 3:18 PM Good luck, Pia and stay well. xox Katie a song by Katie, recorded at 10:53 AM This is such a Pia account. I wish you would write a long story about all of this. Only you can put heart and soul into this tragedy I love this place. I will come more often Deb Ann I. a song by Deb, recorded at 10:35 AM This is such a Pia accounting, so real and honest. I would love to read a story by you on this experience. I love this place. I will come more often Deb a song by Deb, recorded at 10:36 AM Your description of the alterations in the light and the color of the sky, the absence of birds, says so much. Like the previous singer, I'm always richly rewarded when I visit your nest. a song by Patry Francis, recorded at 8:50 AM Best regards from NY! statin drugs blood sugar levels Presige car alarm Cisco csa affiliate guide marketing Fiber back hair weight loss fat shaving High cholesterol caused by sugar a song by Anonymous, recorded at 7:12 AM I am off to buy the book today! Cannot wait. I am thrilled for you. I didn't do the amazon.com because I want to ask for it at the indie book store. Make sure they have it! Deb Ice a song by debbie ann ice, recorded at 5:25 AM sing to me recently No Lie. \| One Way Notes. \| Pass It On. \| Tobacco Road. \| Protection. \| Neighborhood Story Project. \| Consumed. \| My Neighborhood. \| Leary's One Story. \| Unevacuated. \| aviary July 2003 \| August 2003 \| September 2003 \| October 2003 \| November 2003 \| December 2003 \| January 2004 \| February 2004 \| March 2004 \| April 2004 \| May 2004 \| June 2004 \| July 2004 \| August 2004 \| October 2004 \| November 2004 \| December 2004 \| January 2005 \| February 2005 \| March 2005 \| April 2005 \| May 2005 \| June 2005 \| July 2005 \| August 2005 \| September 2005 \| October 2005 \| November 2005 \| December 2005 \| January 2006 \| February 2006 \| March 2006 \| April 2006 \| May 2006 \| June 2006 \| August 2006 \| September 2006 \| October 2006 \| November 2006 \| December 2006 \| January 2007 \| February 2007 \| March 2007 \| April 2007 \| May 2007 \| June 2007 \| July 2007 \| August 2007 \| September 2007 \| October 2007 \| November 2007 \| December 2007 \|					All text and images copyright 2003-2007 Pia Z. Ehrhardt.

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