by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

the storm passed over us
as we slumbered
through its climax

and oddly, the next day was rainy
(it’s usually blazing hot afterwards)

and tho we had no power,
the grass was submerged in
rainwater-turned-bathwater
we were happy and victorious
for we rode out the storm,
following our gut
despite the path
that could have
brought us to our end...

we left abbeville
a little more grateful
and brave, nourished by
hospitality, food and mother nature

we took with us
memories of his dog,
“miss blue” following us
on our bikes like lightning,
and sitting on the porch with
one ear up, one ear down by her
inseparable cat-mate, “my boy,”
looking up at us questioningly,
wanting the only answer
to be love, and lots of it!

and he, the host who took
our homeless gypsy-selves
into his fold and
kept us happy and safe

with family nearby and
weathered cajun storm-wisdom
reassuring us
we were in good hands

indeed we were
and did not want to
return to the
crumbling, prison-like
glamour of the french quarter

but we did we did
nor regretful
despite our enchantment
with the “cone-try”

for city mice we are,
born to chatter in cafes,
never having milked
a patient cow
in our lives
and we’re back
in the fray,
away from the hay
but still living for today
in the home that gave us
love, music and life:
new orleans.

Yes indeed, we are home. We were welcomed by Hurricane Ike, full of gust and vigor that blew us around so much, my brain felt like scrambled eggs that weekend!

But were much luckier than our neighbors in other parts of Louisiana, Galveston and Houston, who we are very concerned about and send our prayers to.

Have you noticed that the news coming out of Texas is much sparer than the coverage of Hurricane Katrina? I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about that one ...

As we braced for Ike, many locals proclaimed they would stay and it was a toss-up for many who simply couldn’t afford to evacuate and lose work Again... Thank the good lord/ess above, there was no need to make that decision, but the wind and rain was worrisome for it went on and on as Ike was so vast, and traveled as far as Chicago!

Gustav and Ike were my first real hurricanes. I was here for Ivan in 2004, but not much happened. And I was already in Massachusetts for Katrina, as luck would have it.

Having been closer to a storm this time, I feel less afraid of the whole scenario as it’s not such an ominous mystery to me now. I still have a healthy respect for storms, however, and if my gut tells me it’s time to go, I’ll leave the city.

But I can’t say that I won’t stay next time for a storm, if equipped with a generator and plenty of water (the most important resource) and food.

The French Quarter hardly lost power, and many “quarter rats” were chagrined to learn they would have been fine if they’d stayed home... The worst part is the wondering, mais oui...
More later...