Hurricane Isaac

Having moved back to the city of New Orleans three years ago, I have just experienced our first evacuation.  Being the first of three years, Im grateful.  Well, this is my strory....

Watching Isaac in the Gulf on Sunday, Aug 26th, realizing there was a high probability that it could hit New Orleans, my honey got to work.  He filled both the cars with gas, checked the tires, put all of the yard paraphernalia in the garage, etc.etc.etc.  Meanwhile, I on the other hand took the kids down the street and my neighbor and I watched the kids swim on that lovely sunny Sunday afternoon.  As I sat in my neighbors back yard, we both were getting emails (via phone) and texts announcing that the kids would be out of school till Thurs due to Hurricane Isaac.  'Really??' is what came to my mind.  The news was saying that it would probably hit NO sometime Tues., so we needed Mon. to get out of the city and Wed. to get back in - HA!  yea, right!

Early Monday, my honey was strongly encouraging me to take the kids and head to Baton Rouge that morning (not to friends in Birmingham, b/c why drive 6 hours when by the time you get there you'll be turning around to come back).  I made a deal with him, 'If I can take a bike ride this morning, Ill then pack and head to Baton Rouge'.  He rolled his eyes and agreed.  While on my bike ride, I could not get over the weather, it was probably the most beautiful August day New Orleans has ever had.  On my ride, it was far from feeling like a ghost town.  I mean, it was quieter then normal because no schools were in session but people were out for walks with spouses and dogs.  You could gather that quite a few people were even having a normal work day. On the other hand, I knew a number of families getting ready to leave town thinking, 'better safe then sorry'.  I took that time, on my bike ride, to mentally prepare for what I knew I needed to do even though I really did not want to do it without my honey.  (after 16 years of marriage, you know your spouse, and I knew better then to fight him on this)  He wanted to be available for those that were going to stay, be able to help with a fallen tree if necessary, and keep check on the houses of those that would be gone.

The boys and I took off to Baton Rouge and were warmly greeted by friends that we have known for a long time.  Little did any of us know, the Tropical Storm that turned into a catagory 1 Hurricane was going to be a VERY slow moving Hurricane!!!  Slow moving hurricanes, even if it is just a category 1, can grind away at the land it approaches.  It is Friday now, and I am still in Baton Rouge, thinking I might wait one more day till I head back.  There are people without power for miles and miles, the grocery stores and gas stations are outrageous.  High demand of everything and little supply of anything. (a good crowd stayed thinking that it was not going to be all that bad)  Its taking people an hour to wait in line to get gas, hoping that in that hour the pump does not run out.  The bad news this morning for my honey was that the generator that was keeping the fridge and a fan going ran out of gas.  The good news this morning was that my honey was able to get to a open restaurant for a nice hearty breakfast this morning, and even better, he got there right when it opened so he did not have to wait in line!

In Baton Rouge, I'm doing all I can from going stir crazy!  Don't take me wrong, we are so grateful for the love our friends have shown, it is a true delight to be in their company.  And being a home of four boys, my children have NOT experienced boredom AT ALL!  It has taken a lot of mental strength though, for me, to get through this week.  Some highlights: baking a new recipe - Coffee/Date Bread, was able to fit a couple of good walks in before and after the rain and wind here, organized a closet and washed down kitchen cabinets (earning my keep:), reading a great book (Blue Parakeet), picked up debris in my friends yard and their neighbors yard, meeting 89 yr old Ms Jewel, and playing some games with the kids (golf card game and scrabble).  Oh, I cant go without mentioning the beautiful size of the home that allows plenty of private space for all AND the fact that we never lost power (unlike some here in Baton Rouge).  Quite spoiled we are!.....my honey might feel 'spoiled' today having an opportunity to actually use the chainsaw!  :):):)

Thanks to all that keep us southern people in your thoughts and prayers!  Thankful for the way God has preserved the situation and hopeful for 'normalcy' soon.....the feeling of 'normalcy' is far too taken for granted!