Hurricane Wilma on the way, floods in New York and the Northeast, and D reports that it has been raining nonstop in Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm sure fundamentalists think it is the End Times and they are all ready for the Rapture. The terrible earthquake in Kashmir makes me feel a bit guilty for caring so much about Louisiana, which after all is in a rich country where people won't freeze or starve to death. But the Louisianans are having a very bad time too.
E, who speaks French quite well but still hasn't been here very long, complained that the French kept referring to Louisiana as la région sinistrée (the region affected by a disaster). It sounded like "sinister" to her.
Another cousin reports from devastated Lake Charles:
"It was such a joy to arrive home after being away for 3 weeks due to Hurricane Rita ....
"While I have to be thankful that we did not sustain more damage due to the hurricane, it is still quite sad to see all the big trees gone from the yard and neighbohood. I am afraid it will not look the same for many, many years to come. I have saved a large piece of the pecan tree D planted in the back yard for those who want a keepsake. It took 50 years to get that big and I guess it will take another 50 years to replace it. I have already told S we will have to plant a live oak tree in the middle of the back yard in its place. From what I have seen and heard, live oaks are very strong and durable. Of the trees still standing, most are live oaks. The water oaks that lined our street are pretty much all gone. (I will still have to plant another pecan tree in memory of the one we lost.) I am sad for Mom for all the pecans she has lost as every year about this time, she would pick, crack and peel pecans for days and then share them with everyone -- in bags of pecans by themselves, or in her delicious pralines, divinity, pecan pie etc. She says she has bags and bags in her freezer, but it will be a long time before we get pecan trees like that again.
"Our rent house where A and J live is very sad to see. The roof was damaged quite badly and we will have to repair it, as well as the back bedroom and kitchen -- if not more. We cannot get anyone to come out and look at it for insurance purposes although that is not uncommon around here these days. Everyone is having trouble getting adjusters to come out. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later so we can get started repairing it. Luckily, S and I kept our old house down the street when we moved here and it was available to rent. A and J will be living there for a while until things are sorted out.
"What a crazy time this is for everyone.
"Love, S"
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Help Louisiana Musicians
There is going to be a concert in Paris for the musicians of New Orleans who need help. They are one of the joys of the state, but most of them live from hand to mouth in the best of times and some are in desperate shape. Gatemouth Brown did not survive the loss of his house and all his possessions in Slidell, Louisiana at age 81, and died as a refugee a few days later.
I heard about it on the radio today. Here is the English translation:
Véronique Sanson, Garou, Gérald de Palmas, Paris Combo, Sanseverino, Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy will take part in a concert Monday, 7th November, organized by Francis Cabrel and Zachary Richard (for you non-Cajuns, Richard is pronounced in the French way, as all good Louisianans know) at the Palais des Congrès in Paris to help the musicians of New Orleans. The total amount of the profit will be turned over to musicians affected by the disaster in New Orleans, devastated by hurricanes Katrina and then Rita, through the foundation "SOS Musiciens", said Francis Cabrel Friday during a Paris press conference.The tickets, which range in price from 35 to 46 euros, are for sale at the Palais des Congrés (or at 01 40 68 00 05, www.palaisdescongres-paris.com in English) and at the usual points of sale (Fnac, Auchan, Carrefour, Leclerc, Virgin Megastore). Gifts can also be made out to the association "SOS Musiciens de la Nouvelle-Orléans", 11 cours Aristide-Briand, 69300 Caluire, France. "Zachary Richard (Cajun singer-composer) called me from Louisiana, in despair over the living conditions of the musicians there, who no longer have any work, nor instruments, nor any help from the government," Francis Cabrel explains. "I accepted the sponsorship of the concert, and my singer friends said yes spontaneously." Ten or so Louisiana musicians will come specially to France to participate in the concert. Francis Cabrel has indicated that it is possible that the artists who are starring on the 7th of November may go to Louisiana in the spring to give other concerts for aid. Also, a CD and DVD of the concert is a possibility. Some 800 places have already been sold and the organizers hope to sell 3600-3700 tickets for the aid concert.
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