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I completely apologize. I didn't realize that we could forget shit so quickly around here. And by around here I mean the entire fucking nation.

Last night I mused aloud to Cor and her Mom that I wasn't thrilled with intercollegiate Division I sports involving the Hokies not being postponed by at least a week. My rationale was that: a) D1 had the cash to delay it; b) Some of these athletes are 17-18 years old and don't have the experience that a 50 year old administrator would in knowing you need time to grieve; c) If classes are optional, than sports should be too-- and have the wisdom to postpone them (i.e. if rain can cancel a baseball game, can't a hail of bullets?); d) 9-11 killed entire professional games but a single game of squash can't get a delay thanks to the worst shooting massacre in U.S. history?; and finally, the real main reason I worried aloud... e) If the fucking country and media catches you napping at the wheel and letting games like this go on they will move on EVEN FASTER and forget about you.

Cynical? Sure.

I realize and understand all of the good reasons to let these last couple of athletic games go on, but I feel like that last reason against it is pretty damn relevant. No, I don't want to media to continue to ruin any lives, but if you want anything substantial to be learned from this we'll need this thing to stay in the spotlight a while longer.

Proof?

This photo was taken YESTERDAY in New Orleans.


In one of the several Katrina documentaries I've seen there's a great line by Chris Rose about how in the Times-Picayune bullpen they were openly betting how long it would be before a hurricane-related headline didn't appear on the front page of the Picayune; the general consensus was 5 years. They're probably right.

But it took Yahoo! News only 7 days to knock Virginia Tech off.

Of course we will watch history repeat itself. It will only happen in tighter, tighter spirals the more we let human tragedy leave our consciousness as quickly as a cancelled sitcom. I don't want us to dwell, I just want us to understand-- mobilize-- and learn. Because if we're not careful than what changes do happen to higher ed, and I maintain that sweeping ones are on the way, will be made without our input.

Even though I had to work Homecoming and it was drizzling and 45 degrees all day, it was awesome. Cor had to work, so Addy and I had the entire afternoon and night together. We watched the Gators win (yay for Tebow's jumpshot), played Pirates, went to the local Mexican eatery for some great food (and Addy acted so adult, it was cute) and came back for a phone call to my rents, a walk with Kona, the ritual pre-bedtime Dora, some reading and then bedtime. We were both wiped out.

Anyway. I finally got to chat today with some people that had also recently been to New Orleans. That was nice-- instant kindred spirits. And I strongly recommend "Hexing A Hurricane" to anyone interested. It's not super-thorough, but a great set of clips and emotions.

And to repeat something i said in a comment elsewhere.... Right now I'm trying to convince our whole family (my parents and Cor's) to go to New Orleans for Christmas. As a favor to us and to the city. It looks like it might actually happen. And if it does maybe we'll do Yorkness:New Orleans 2007...

So I'm back. Feeling ill, but back.

The whole experience is so numbing. I found myself trying to talk to my advisees today with such a staccato of breath, such a saturated heart, I barely wanted to share. I just didn't know how to explain it. Maybe when I feel better.

But to that end, here is the bulk of the photos, that barely explain anything on their own, I'm sorry to say. It's all so much to take...

http://web.mac.com/corridean/iWeb/GeneralStore/New%20Orleans%20Rebuild.html

So, today was one of the most incredible, soul-wrenching, insanely important days.

Just a few photos to tell part of the story; there are many photos, these are just a few of the people and places near the worksite.

The story of Ida and Carlton Roy... Carlton was a leader in his community. He's 90. Ida is a strong septugenarian woman who is battling cancer- something she was only recently diagnosed with, after their FEMA trailer came in but not before the news that their entire house had to be gutted. When I say gutted, I mean truly gutted- nothing but the studs. Several feet of standing water (for weeks) and rain that poured through a wind-ripped roof ruined everything. Their only income is from renting half of their duplex, so they have been montetarily paralyzed as well. Ida recounted for us, through a wall of tears that we all hit many times today, seeing her home during one of many visits back- how all the furniture from two families that they had kept and preserved was crushed under the metal claw of the removal crews, from a stack of memories on the street curb.

After a professional sheet rocking team finished this morning with our help, we attacked the house and primed and painted (two coats of the latter) every room with colors Ida chose. Ida vailiantly saved some photos of family even though they were mostly ruined-- but I have offered to take them back to VA to have Suzie and I work on them to try and restore some memories. I also met their grandson (who they raised) Cedric, who was tearful and so thankful of the 40 people helping to completely rebuild his grandparents home. "My grandmother hasn't smiled for more than a year- until today," he offered to us at the end of a long workday.

We have heard dozens of these stories. Of even relatively high-middle-class New Orleans folk cooped up seven to a room (plus dog) in a Super 8 in Houston. Of some who stayed. Of some who have struggled with normalcy, whatever that looks lke now.

But tonight, after eight hours of labor, we also found some respite in good food and music. We caught a great meal at Jin Jeans followed by Kermit Ruffins new Sunday show in their lounge. Obviously a bit tired from just flying in from Trinidad (Kermit has been quite an ambassador for New Orleans since Katrina, performing far more shows, enough that he's barely kept a regular weekly gig as he usually did a year ago) - Kermit's show still rejuvenated all involved. He bought the entire happy house one drink and later trimphantly questioned then proclaimed, "What is New Orleans? It's the people, it's the life, and it is back." The mostly local crowd of forty agreed. And two from Virginia were happy they did.