Learning and letting go...

[tigeronstarfire]

First came Justin.
Next was my grandmother.
Followed swiftly by UNO.
And now...

My home's interior was completely devastated by Katrina.

I hope to have photos up soon (the DSL STILL isn't available...that comes Friday) but... It doesn't look good.

Water came up to at least six feet, and with the house being built as sturdy as it was...the water was probably in there a good while. Mold is thickly covering the upper walls and melted fans. Furniture is all over the place. Three to four inches of mud covered the carpets and the entire house. My collections that were left at the house are probably gone.

Nintendo Power. Power Ranger Zords. Nintendo Games from various systems. My Evangelions. My video tapes. My stuffed animals. And yes, that probably includes most of my Gundams.

I haven't seen my room...I only have taken pictures of the kitchen and living room, but mom took the rest, and hope to have them on CD soon. I hope to have video of the home soon now that I have boots, but...

To be honest...I'm throughly glad God gave me a chance to enjoy what I did have at the house (and thankfully the creme de la creme were safe at the dormitory) and it'd be even better if I could save at least a few more things from it (I wasn't even going to bother a few Tuesday...the mold and mud and lack of proper footwear kept me from going further) but...well.. Heh.

Despite the dreadful mood the upper part of the post has... Although the realization that we had a lot of water stunned me..after a while, it was okay. I feel like..in an odd way..all of St. Bernard has been blessed by this storm, and that things WILL be a lot better than they were before.

A stronger and more beautiful New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish, as well as everywhere else affected by Katrina and Rita. Levee systems that can withstand a Category 5 storm. Louisiana blossoming into the beautiful Magnolia we hold as our state flower. We will be back with burning vigor!! >=D

But will Louisiana still be my home? Where does my future lie? A lot of my life has been thrown into question, what with UNO, my college career, my major...lots of things. But I think in the end, a lot of it will be much clearer. Much clearer. And that's something I truly look forward to.

A lot has been lost...but now we just pick up the pieces with what we have left and start anew. We're alive. We can rebuild. We will more fully live again.

Watch us.

Comments

[zeiroslion.livejournal.com]

That's about how I feel hon. I know that my house is more or less ruined, but... it's sort of a serene kind of feeling, like what you describe as the beginning of a massive rejuvenation of the area. I doubt that I will return to the New Orleans area to reside there, but damned if I don't go there to at least visit and take in what it will be when the dust clears. Keep that burning vigor alive - I'm sure as hell gonna do my best to keep it in me. ^__^

[nocky.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, 6' is high.. I'm so sorry. :\

[ilea.livejournal.com]

yeah britney (leopardwolf) originally said hers was 6 feet but hers was less than that judging from the pics I'd say hers was door handle level. I had a friend look into my house... he says I'm going to cry when I see my room... and mine was completely submerged.

[nocky.livejournal.com]

It's gotta be unbelievable. I still can't imagine what it's like. I know I'd be going crazy with just sitting around and waiting to get back home to see what I can find to save.

[ilea.livejournal.com]

I sorta don't want to know. I almost think it'd be better to not see it. I *know* my stuff is all gone.

... but I have to go back for my grandmas ring.

[nocky.livejournal.com]

It's totally understandable. I imagine a ring would be salvageable, right?

[ilea.livejournal.com]

I assume so... hopefully it didn't fall on the floor when all the water came in... then I'll have to dig through the footor two of mud that is in my house.

[nocky.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you'll find it. It's gotta be safe where you placed it.

[ilea.livejournal.com]

heh it was in a cardboard/cloth jewelry box on my desk.... I just hope it didn't float.

Poor richard lost all of his books...he's gonna cry when he sees them.

[ilea.livejournal.com]

Was it less water where you were 'cause you all were sorta close to the levee?

I'm so sorry about your collections. :(

Where are you now?

[tigeronstarfire.livejournal.com]

I believe so because areas closer to St. Bernard Highway weren't as bad off as those further back towards Judge Perez. I mean, passing through the Friday after the storm, subdivisions by St. Bernard Highway were mostly dry, still standing, but dry. Judge Perez still had water covering the streets and only the medians were sticking up. (Of course it's dry now, but just the matter of standing water) That, and if you didn't know, you can go back whenever you desire. It's not being limited to just a few days to go in...but you won't be able to stay past like...6 or 8 PM. I can assure you though...it won't be pretty. But you still might be able to salvage some stuff. Just make sure to clean it REALLY well, if you can.

Right now? Pine Prairie, LA--about an hour and a half north of Lafayette. Gonna get another car tomorrow though. ^_^ Got another Saturn SL2, at, of all places, a Volkswagen dealership in Baton Rouge. ;) More on that soon though.

[ilea.livejournal.com]

Well hun come visit me some time!