I read this just now at Annatopia's blog, and I got tears in my eyes. This man knows the reality of what is going to happen to his old home place there, yet does not sound bitter. From Annatopia's blog from Arlington, I believe.
http://annatopia.com/archives/001427.html"We sat and talked books for a bit. Turns out he is a New Orleans refugee. His name is Tony, and he and his family fled the city as Katrina hit.
I asked him if it was ok if I asked about what was going on in his life today. He seemed willing to talk about it, even mentioned that it helps to talk. He told me an interesting tale.
He worked at the House of Blues in NO, doing security. As the hurricane approached, he loaded up his wife, kids and mom and headed north. They got stranded just outside the city at a motel. Then everything went to shit.
Tony is a well read man, African-American, a hard worker who had built a decent life for his family. His family owned a home in the city they had lived in as long as anyone could remember. Then they found themselves stuck in a motel with no electricty; no idea where to go or what to do.
He told me that the motel owner kicked everyone out the next day. Tony knew a couple of people in the DFW area, so the family loaded up and headed this way. They ended up sleeping on a friend's floor, watching the news as pictures of their flooded city flashed before their eyes.
I asked him if the trama of the situation had passed. He told me that some days were fine, but that other days he crumbled inside from disbelief that all he had worked for, all he had, was gone."
And this part tells the true reality, known by most of them. "He told me that his family has spent the last month trying to find friends, to see who is still alive. They have no doubts about the conditon of their last home. It is in ruins. Tony said the whole place will be leveled and replaced with new houses for the rich, a new Miami Beach.
Watching, listening, I felt like crying. To see a man, a proud strong man, talking about starting over, coming to the realization that all he had worked for was gone was just tramatic. My heart and soul go out to him. "
More at the link:
http://annatopia.com/archives/001427.html