From Bishop Charles Jenkins of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana:
Saturday, September 06, 2008
A Quick Reflection on Evacuation (Saturday, September 6, 2008)
Nell Bolton, the Canons and I toured a bit of the Southwest Deanery on Friday, The Bridge on Hwy. 315 was broken and the Falgout Canal road flooded so we could not get to Bayou du Large. The devastation and need in Terrebonne Parish is huge.
As I drove back to my personal home in Slidell, La., I passed convoys of trucks bringing power workers into the region. I also passed convoys of buses bringing home those who had needed assistance to evacuate. The stream of autos returning to New Orleans has been heavy for three days. I congratulate the Governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans on the evacuation effort for Gustav. I have been quick to criticize; my congratulations are genuine.
A lot of us will not be able to willing to go next time. Should IKE threaten, many of us will just try to hunker down. The infantile pleas of grossly inarticulate leaders will likely fall upon deaf ears. The Gustav evacuation demonstrated even to those of us who have some means, the frustration of not being able to meet our basic needs when nothing is available for purchase. We have now an experience, albeit it miniscule, of being poor. For example, even the rich are poor in Houma today. There is no electricity; there is little clean water, if any. I hope we learn from this experience.
A deep sadness of the Gustav evacuation was hearing the telephone calls on WWL radio of the poor who had evacuated and then been turned out of their hotels for lack of resources. Some who self evacuated did not have the means to purchase fuel for the trip home. I assume that those of us who rely solely upon a monthly check will get those funds when the power comes on. In the meantime, we have nothing to live on except the generosity of others. Many of us will not have the means, financially or emotionally, to go again. Some have said it is better to die here than elsewhere.
None of this should be considered an excuse to stay put if an evacuation is ordered. If we are called to go again, we must go!
It is joked that in New Orleans a common wedding present is an axe to put in the attic of your home. An axe in the attic is needed to cut through the roof if you must evacuate vertically. I am off to the Home Depot to replenish my hurricane supplies and to purchase an axe.
Bishop Jenkins
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
We're Back!
We're back in Thibodaux. It appears that we will be spared Hurricane Ike's wrath. The people of Haiti and Cuba have taken a bad hit. The storm raked the whole island of Cuba, along with giving grief to the folks in the Florida Keys. Pray for them.
My prayers go forth for the people of Texas, wherever Ike ends up in that state. I pray especially for Mike in Texas and Lindy and Rowan, that they be spared the worst of the storm.
From the comments, Mike says:
I too am watching Ike with some trepidation. Our move will take place on Thursday and Friday. The piano (a 7-foot Steinway) is due to be moved on Thursday. The furniture due to be moved on Friday. Should Ike head this way, things could be rather complicated. I'm always a complete wreck when the piano is moved. I can't even bear to watch them tip if over and remove the legs. (For those who know about such things, it's an unreplacable gem from Steinway's glory days of the 1920s-40s.)
Mike, I hope the piano move goes well, as well as the rest of the move.
Our water here in Thibodaux is terrible. It smells bad and looks dirty. The powers tell us if we boil it for a minute, we can drink it, but it's so nasty tasting and smelling, that I hate to shower in it, much less give a thought to drinking it. As soon as we drove into town, we could smell Bayou Lafourche which is the source of our drinking water. It's full of rotting leaves from Gustav, which causes the bad taste and smell, and I believe they're adding chemicals to try to fix the problem.
Many thanks to all of you for the prayers, concern, and good wishes through all of the hurricane adventure. Trust me. They helped get me through.
UPDATE: Thanks to you, Fran, for keeping all informed in my absence and for much excellent phone therapy. Thanks to you also, Jane R., for posting news, and for additional phone therapy. And you didn't even send me a bill. Imagine!
My prayers go forth for the people of Texas, wherever Ike ends up in that state. I pray especially for Mike in Texas and Lindy and Rowan, that they be spared the worst of the storm.
From the comments, Mike says:
I too am watching Ike with some trepidation. Our move will take place on Thursday and Friday. The piano (a 7-foot Steinway) is due to be moved on Thursday. The furniture due to be moved on Friday. Should Ike head this way, things could be rather complicated. I'm always a complete wreck when the piano is moved. I can't even bear to watch them tip if over and remove the legs. (For those who know about such things, it's an unreplacable gem from Steinway's glory days of the 1920s-40s.)
Mike, I hope the piano move goes well, as well as the rest of the move.
Our water here in Thibodaux is terrible. It smells bad and looks dirty. The powers tell us if we boil it for a minute, we can drink it, but it's so nasty tasting and smelling, that I hate to shower in it, much less give a thought to drinking it. As soon as we drove into town, we could smell Bayou Lafourche which is the source of our drinking water. It's full of rotting leaves from Gustav, which causes the bad taste and smell, and I believe they're adding chemicals to try to fix the problem.
Many thanks to all of you for the prayers, concern, and good wishes through all of the hurricane adventure. Trust me. They helped get me through.
UPDATE: Thanks to you, Fran, for keeping all informed in my absence and for much excellent phone therapy. Thanks to you also, Jane R., for posting news, and for additional phone therapy. And you didn't even send me a bill. Imagine!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Update
There is a post about Mimi up over at Acts of Hope. Mimi and Jane spoke today on Monday.
It does appear that Grandmere will be back in Thibodaux, but she is not sure when she will have internet connection. Either way, she is taking a bit of a blog break.
But worry, not we will keep everyone posted in some way.
We all love our Grandmere!
It does appear that Grandmere will be back in Thibodaux, but she is not sure when she will have internet connection. Either way, she is taking a bit of a blog break.
But worry, not we will keep everyone posted in some way.
We all love our Grandmere!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Grandmere Mimi Update from FranIam
Hi kids-
Spoke to Mimi again, she is still in New Roads. They have power but her daughter in law left and the computer went with her.
Updates may follow, but she is fine so things will be quiet unless she posts or wants me to post something.
I am also turning comment moderation on as Mimi requested. It is her blogcation of sorts for now!
You can always email me - easy enough to find on my blog, if you want to know something. I will post something here when we get our donation thing set up later this week, I hope.
Spoke to Mimi again, she is still in New Roads. They have power but her daughter in law left and the computer went with her.
Updates may follow, but she is fine so things will be quiet unless she posts or wants me to post something.
I am also turning comment moderation on as Mimi requested. It is her blogcation of sorts for now!
You can always email me - easy enough to find on my blog, if you want to know something. I will post something here when we get our donation thing set up later this week, I hope.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Giving Thanks
"...in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
A tornado touched down in the woods behind our property here in New Roads. A tornado ripped up a neighborhood near where we live in Thibodaux. I am grateful beyond what I can express that my family is safe and that all of our homes are relatively undamaged.
Then I turned again to Paul from Romans:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The same Paul, whose words I sometimes shrink from, that same Paul's words were a source of strength and consolation in my time of stress.
Then I turned to the wonderful Chapter 61 from Isaiah and the Beatitudes from Luke 6, where I was once again blessed and comforted.
Thanks be to God! Amen, and amen, and amen! Alleluia! "My cup runneth over."
A tornado touched down in the woods behind our property here in New Roads. A tornado ripped up a neighborhood near where we live in Thibodaux. I am grateful beyond what I can express that my family is safe and that all of our homes are relatively undamaged.
On the day before Gustav came through, I spent time reading the Bible, turning to passages that are comforting to me. The only Bible here is a KJV, with it's stately and beautiful language. I turned to the passage below from Paul's Epistle to the Philippians:
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."Then I turned again to Paul from Romans:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The same Paul, whose words I sometimes shrink from, that same Paul's words were a source of strength and consolation in my time of stress.
Then I turned to the wonderful Chapter 61 from Isaiah and the Beatitudes from Luke 6, where I was once again blessed and comforted.
Thanks be to God! Amen, and amen, and amen! Alleluia! "My cup runneth over."
Change Of Plans
We will not return home to Thibodaux today. It seems dove hunting season starts today here in New Roads, and the guys want to hunt. I wonder if Sarah Palin would like to join them. They could ask. She's such a hot babe.
As for me, I may just decide to stay here in New Roads to see where Hurricane Ike decides to land. Again it's a roll of the dice to know where to go, but we are provisioned here for life without electric power. I'm sure that Grandpere will want to go back to Thibodaux to run the generator for his freezer. My DIL thinks she will stay here in New Roads, until we know more about the direction Ike will take. I won't stay here alone.
Fran, my dear friend, thanks for posting. You can only post what information I give you, and I can only post what information I have, and GP doesen't always keep me informed of his latest decisions. They're in his head, but sometimes he ain't tellin'. What can I say? Didn't I tell you that we were a crazy family?
As for me, I may just decide to stay here in New Roads to see where Hurricane Ike decides to land. Again it's a roll of the dice to know where to go, but we are provisioned here for life without electric power. I'm sure that Grandpere will want to go back to Thibodaux to run the generator for his freezer. My DIL thinks she will stay here in New Roads, until we know more about the direction Ike will take. I won't stay here alone.
Fran, my dear friend, thanks for posting. You can only post what information I give you, and I can only post what information I have, and GP doesen't always keep me informed of his latest decisions. They're in his head, but sometimes he ain't tellin'. What can I say? Didn't I tell you that we were a crazy family?
Mimi As Channeled By FranIam Once More
I spoke to our beloved Grandmere this morning. The power is back on in Thibodaux so she is headed back there.
Mimi does not think that she will have her cable modem for awhile so it is not clear how often she can post. She will try to use other people's access or the library, if it is functioning.
Otherwise, you are stuck with me kids for a short while longer.
Stay tuned for details about a donation site in honor of Mimi to the people of Louisiana. This is thanks to the efforts of this blogger and friend of Mimi. I am but the mouthpiece... something I do well (deep sigh) so I am to be grateful for and use my gifts as God has given them to me.
Speaking of which, it is not too late to help our friend Jane R who had a tree crash into her house in NC a week ago. Email me at festinalente07 at gmail dot com if you wish to participate and I will explain. (For those who have sent something - thank you deeply, I know Jane will be grateful.)
Thank God for community. Mimi is grateful and we will keep you posted one way or another.
Mimi does not think that she will have her cable modem for awhile so it is not clear how often she can post. She will try to use other people's access or the library, if it is functioning.
Otherwise, you are stuck with me kids for a short while longer.
Stay tuned for details about a donation site in honor of Mimi to the people of Louisiana. This is thanks to the efforts of this blogger and friend of Mimi. I am but the mouthpiece... something I do well (deep sigh) so I am to be grateful for and use my gifts as God has given them to me.
Speaking of which, it is not too late to help our friend Jane R who had a tree crash into her house in NC a week ago. Email me at festinalente07 at gmail dot com if you wish to participate and I will explain. (For those who have sent something - thank you deeply, I know Jane will be grateful.)
Thank God for community. Mimi is grateful and we will keep you posted one way or another.
Friday, September 5, 2008
My MRE
I just finished eating my first MRE. I didn't have to eat it, because we have food, but I believe that everyone ought to have the experience, don't you?
The package included:
Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini
Crackers
Cheese spread
Fig bars
Shortbread cookie
Raisins (Osmotic)
Beverage base for lemonade
Spoon
Moist towelette
I must admit it was not bad. If I had no food, I'd be thrilled with it. I wonder if one meal would satisfy a hard-working man, however, it was more than enough for me, and Diana (my dog) happily licked up the leftovers.
Aren't my posts the most fascinating ever? I still have limited time on the computer, so I can't get into anything long or deep, so now you know more than you want to know about MREs.
The package included:
Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini
Crackers
Cheese spread
Fig bars
Shortbread cookie
Raisins (Osmotic)
Beverage base for lemonade
Spoon
Moist towelette
I must admit it was not bad. If I had no food, I'd be thrilled with it. I wonder if one meal would satisfy a hard-working man, however, it was more than enough for me, and Diana (my dog) happily licked up the leftovers.
Aren't my posts the most fascinating ever? I still have limited time on the computer, so I can't get into anything long or deep, so now you know more than you want to know about MREs.
Friday Report
We have power in New Roads, LA. Yay! The electricity came on last night while I was talking to Fran, but then it went off after a minute or so. I took that as a portent of good things to come, and, indeed, after an hour or so, the power came back on and stayed on, thanks be to God and the hardworking utility employees.
Still no power in Thibodaux, so I'll stay here for a while. My son who lives in Houma found his house in good shape, but for the two ventilating turbines blown off. However, there were no leaks as a result. My DIL's parents and her sister returned to Houma this morning, planning to stay. It's just DIL and me for now, and it's nice and quiet. I'm on my fourth wash load of towels, clothes, etc. It's good to be back in business.
I'm more grateful than I can say for all the prayers and good wishes. I speak the truth when I say that they provided strength and encouragement during the scary times. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I have the best commenters on the intertubes.
I have not been much in touch with the outside world, but I did watch part of McSame's acceptance speech. I didn't think much of it. I loved his line about Obama wanting to put a bureaucracy between you and your health care. I wonder how he feels about his own access to health care through the Senate. Does he spurn it? A lot of folks would like access to health care like yours, Senator, bureaucracy and all. Big applause for that line . I guess those folks are all well covered. The crowd was very white. If people of color were there, the camera did not focus on them, except for a brief pan of a Vietnamese for McBush crowd.
Sarah Palin was a very poor choice as candidate for VP. What was the 72 year old candidate thinking, or was he thinking? Of course, the plan is to bring out the fundamentalist vote for McWorse, and this may well do it. And the Repubs say that Obama does not have experience! I consider myself a feminist, but women do not get a pass from me, just because they are women. Sarah is NMKOW. She's pretty much a disaster of a choice. Women can be strong without guns and liking moose for dinner!
When we had our talks with our teenage children, we gave them the facts, including birth control information, and our advice on how they should conduct themselves, bearing in mind that they may not heed our advice. We said that if they were underage and a pregnancy occurred, that there would be no wedding, but we told the boys that they would have to take responsibility if there was a baby. So what does this little family vignette have to do with the subject of the post? It's pertinent, or it's not. Take your pick.
Again, thank you for your care and concern. Mwah! Mwah! Virtual hugs all around, except for those of you who don't like hugging.
Still no power in Thibodaux, so I'll stay here for a while. My son who lives in Houma found his house in good shape, but for the two ventilating turbines blown off. However, there were no leaks as a result. My DIL's parents and her sister returned to Houma this morning, planning to stay. It's just DIL and me for now, and it's nice and quiet. I'm on my fourth wash load of towels, clothes, etc. It's good to be back in business.
I'm more grateful than I can say for all the prayers and good wishes. I speak the truth when I say that they provided strength and encouragement during the scary times. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I have the best commenters on the intertubes.
I have not been much in touch with the outside world, but I did watch part of McSame's acceptance speech. I didn't think much of it. I loved his line about Obama wanting to put a bureaucracy between you and your health care. I wonder how he feels about his own access to health care through the Senate. Does he spurn it? A lot of folks would like access to health care like yours, Senator, bureaucracy and all. Big applause for that line . I guess those folks are all well covered. The crowd was very white. If people of color were there, the camera did not focus on them, except for a brief pan of a Vietnamese for McBush crowd.
Sarah Palin was a very poor choice as candidate for VP. What was the 72 year old candidate thinking, or was he thinking? Of course, the plan is to bring out the fundamentalist vote for McWorse, and this may well do it. And the Repubs say that Obama does not have experience! I consider myself a feminist, but women do not get a pass from me, just because they are women. Sarah is NMKOW. She's pretty much a disaster of a choice. Women can be strong without guns and liking moose for dinner!
When we had our talks with our teenage children, we gave them the facts, including birth control information, and our advice on how they should conduct themselves, bearing in mind that they may not heed our advice. We said that if they were underage and a pregnancy occurred, that there would be no wedding, but we told the boys that they would have to take responsibility if there was a baby. So what does this little family vignette have to do with the subject of the post? It's pertinent, or it's not. Take your pick.
Again, thank you for your care and concern. Mwah! Mwah! Virtual hugs all around, except for those of you who don't like hugging.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Thursday Report
Grandpere is in Thibodaux with no power, but he emptied the refrigerators. He will stay there and keep the generator running for his wife, the freezer. Yes, I have concluded that his true wedded wife is the freezer. I guess you could say that I am his second wife. Did you know that south Louisiana allowed polygamy? My son in Thibodaux has a gas stove, so he will eat with him.
That's OK, because the Winn-Dixie store here opened, and we were able to buy groceries and supplies, like much needed toilet paper. The store was not a mob scene, and I took my time shopping because the store was air-conditioned. Until power is restored in Thibodaux, I will stay in New Roads, because we can cook, and we have hot water.
We tried to wash a load of towels, but the 40 year old washer did not complete the cycle, so we had to wring the towels by hand, and they are now hanging on the porch. I had washed a few of my clothes by hand in the bathtub yesterday, and my bras and panties were on full display on the front porch swinging in the breeze for all to see until they dried.
We're eating well, because we're emptying the freezer. My DIL cooked delicious fried shrimp and fried potatoes for lunch.
My son and grandson will go to Houma this afternoon to check on their house, but they will return to New Roads tomorrow.
I'm reading your comments and enjoying them, but I can't respond to them now. I can only answer essential emails. I'll try to post each day as long as I have access to my DIL's computer.
Love to all.
That's OK, because the Winn-Dixie store here opened, and we were able to buy groceries and supplies, like much needed toilet paper. The store was not a mob scene, and I took my time shopping because the store was air-conditioned. Until power is restored in Thibodaux, I will stay in New Roads, because we can cook, and we have hot water.
We tried to wash a load of towels, but the 40 year old washer did not complete the cycle, so we had to wring the towels by hand, and they are now hanging on the porch. I had washed a few of my clothes by hand in the bathtub yesterday, and my bras and panties were on full display on the front porch swinging in the breeze for all to see until they dried.
We're eating well, because we're emptying the freezer. My DIL cooked delicious fried shrimp and fried potatoes for lunch.
My son and grandson will go to Houma this afternoon to check on their house, but they will return to New Roads tomorrow.
I'm reading your comments and enjoying them, but I can't respond to them now. I can only answer essential emails. I'll try to post each day as long as I have access to my DIL's computer.
Love to all.
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