Hi everyone...I'm new and this is my first post, so do bear with me. I have several nice friends who post regularly, and I do enjoy lurking about from time to time...but never joined...as i tend to stay as far away from the laptop as humanly possible during my ever decreasing free time...
Nevermind all that though! The reason I'm posting is that I found this thread quite interesting. I'm from New Orleans originally...moved there from Atlanta as a youngun' and lived there until my teens. Nowdays I live in London.
I kept up good contacts in my home city over the years, and just though I'd share some news. For the most part, people have evacuated, and are currently scattered about the US biding their time until it's safe to return. Many people do plan to go back...
The most interesting news on the voodoo front so far, is that the homes of several reputable practitioners have remained entirely undamaged, despite being in heavily hit areas. In Gulfport, Brandi Kelley, of the lovely shop Voodoo Authentica, returned back to her neighbourhood after the storm, to find her home intact and standing. Likewise was the case with another young friend of ours...
who actually had it confirmed by the local authorites that her home had been leveled. Not so! She returned to find that things were fine...no flooding, or wind damage of any kind. Nevertheless it was the only place left standing for blocks...all the homes arounf her had been completely destroyed.
Dora and Wade, also of Authentica, are safe as well. Mr. Joshua Chance, one of the shop's most esteemed readers, moved house to California a week before the storm hit...after months of feeling it was "time to get outta New Orleans...I keep having dreams of sinking, drowning. Probably just internal stuff though and time for a change of scene". (Letter dated early August, 2005)
Still waiting on news of the shop premises itself...
However, things in general are far from alright. I hear little miracle stories like these from my friends in town, and that's just lovely...standing homes, narrow escapes, people safe in various cities... That don't eclipse the tragedy of this whole thing though. I've still several friends who are missing, but we figure at this point that no news may be good news...or at least we hope so.
I'm reminded of local artist and priestess Sallie Ann Glassman's rendering of good old Atu XVI in her loveley "New Orleans Voodoo Tarot". In most decks that's called the Tower. She entitled it "Deluge". The painting is of a levee breach, floodwater, an electrical tower falling into the Mississippi.
Ms. Glassman evacuated by the way, and is apparently safe.
Hard times...but...
Noted folklorist and collector of musical rarities Louis Maistros, and his partner, Elly (Hatian Hounsis-Kanzo initiate, and proprietress of a rather nice botanica) have stated:
"To our regular friends and customers: PLEASE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT US. We are OK. We will make it through this. We will not close down. We will come home and rebuild if necessary. Katrina can kiss my everlovin' New Orleanian #@ss.
Say a prayer for our city, and for those who didn't get out in time. Our hearts are broken, but we are by no means down for the count. Don't believe those who say New Orleans will never be the same. New Orleans will come back with avengeance. Bet on it."
More news as it arrives! x |
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