10 years. $81 billion dollars in damage. 1836 deaths. 1 storm. Hurricane Katrina.
10 years ago, August 29, 2005 my favorite city in the world was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, leaving in her wake massive destruction, death, and for a little while, the livelihood of the city known as The Big Easy.
But, I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina. Yes, you read that correctly. I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina. Sounds silly, doesn't it. And I am sure that MANY people will be a bit upset with that comment, especially those who lost so much during that storm 10 years ago. Believe me, being thankful for the storm in no way lessens the heartache I felt that morning watching it unfold on news outlets 1400 miles away. Being thankful for the storm in no way makes me overjoyed or pleased at what happened to New Orleans that morning. But yes, I am thankful for that bitch of a storm.
Rewind time back 10 years. Summer of 2005. It was much like my summer 2015. Filled with excitement and visiting a new city that would rank among my favorites. One month before Hurricane Katrina decided to visit, I had been in NOLA for a week long vacation with some people I knew. It was a glorious week. The city of New Orleans opened my eyes to a lot of things in my life. It was the first time I had ever gone away without my immediate family. My (now ex-) husband opted out of the trip, saying he had no desire to visit New Orleans. My children were far too young to accompany me. So, I visited New Orleans with two of my friends at the time, meeting up with others later in the week. It was while I was exploring this great city that I realized the direction my life would be taking when I returned home. It was while wandering the city alone on the Wednesday of my trip that I met someone who would become the truest friend I've ever known. I met NOFD Captain Ronnie Beaulieu as I stumbled into Engine 29 to buy a NOFD TShirt for my (now -ex) husband, who was also a firefighter. We talked a little shop (I think I impressed him with my firefighting knowledge) and we instantly connected with a bond of friendship that would, 10 years later, prove very hard to break.
After leaving New Orleans on my first trip, Captain Ron and I remained in touch. And then.....August 29 happened. I can't begin to tell you the fear I felt watching what was happening in New Orleans, knowing what his job was, and having absolutely NO way of getting in touch with him to make sure he was ok. That morning, my mom and aunt were at my house for our annual "Kids are back in school" games and drinks day, like we did every year on the first day of school. The weather here was pretty nasty, too, so we sat in my living room, at a card table, playing various games, drinking wine, and watching. I remember constantly hitting redial on my phone, which was met with nothing but dial tones and recorded messages that 'all circuits were down'. My heart sank. When I was able, I left message after message on Captain Ron's phone begging him to let me know he was ok. It took a few days, but finally, the call came in and the voice on the other end was my friend. I remember crying. And I remember the rest.
My friend had seen the gates of hell pretty much open up in front of him. I had no response at first. What do you say to someone who sees what should have been seen in horror movies, unfold right in front of his eyes? Not knowing what to say, I listened. Every night for over a month, same time (10pm-ish my time, 9pm-ish his time), I listened. Being so far removed from what was happening in his city, I could listen. His fear for his family (who are amazing and have become people I consider my good friends, too), his fear for his city, his exhaustion, his sadness, and through it all, his love for his city.
That all brings me to why I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina. I am thankful for the storm that blasted New Orleans because through that storm, I realized how deep my love was for a city I had only visited once before. I realized the incredible, deep rooted, connection to a city that had never been on my radar prior to the summer of 2005. And that city has drawn me back half a dozen times since then.
I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina simply because that storm helped me forge a bond of friendship with someone I cannot imagine my life without. Because of that wicked nasty storm, I was connected to my new friend in ways that I would have never imagined. And I'd do it all over again if it meant the outcome was the friendship I have now. Visits to my beloved city include visits with Captain Ron and his beautiful wife, Stacey. Visits always begin with a first stop at 317 Decatur Street to say hello to my friend, right where it all began. I am thankful for that.
I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina because the mess she left behind was not quickly erased from my mind. As a teacher, I used the storm as a teaching tool when my school year finally began that year. Current events at its finest. I taught about the city, hurricanes, this particular hurricane, and was able to bring my friend into the classroom, at first using teleconferencing. Captain Ron called my classroom, was put on speaker phone, and talked to my students about his city. He answered almost all of their questions, no matter how heartbreaking they may have been for him. We watched him on TV as a morning TV show followed him going back into his home to see what was left behind. He sent patches, MRE's for the kids to try, remnants of his city, and, one weekend on a respite trip he was forced to take to 'clear his mind for a little bit' of what happened in his city, he came to my class and they were able to meet him. He brought TShirts (which he is FAMOUS for always having on hand at the fire station - in a wide variety of styles, too, dependent on what's happening in the city at the time.) for each of the kids and talked to my class in person for quite some time. Because of that, a new friendship was forged. One of my students from that year has kept in touch with Captain Ron off and on for the past 10 years, most recently reconnecting on Facebook. I am thankful for that.
I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina because through all the mess, devastation, destruction, and rebuilding, I've always been reminded of the city that I love. I've helped my own two daughters see what a great city it is and even took my oldest to celebrate her 21st birthday on Bourbon Street a few years ago. She, too, has developed an inexplicable love for this city. My youngest is looking forward to the time when I take her, too, to introduce her to the city that has a piece of my heart. I am thankful for a storm that consumed so much of my time, heart, and energy 10 years ago, because New Orleans has always been a talking point in our home. She's never gone away.
So, yes, you read that right. I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina, because as she battered down on the city I had just visited a month before, she also strengthened the feeling I have for this city. A feeling that continues to grow stronger each passing year. One day I'll live in this city because I truly believe the quote: "Someone suggested that there's an incomplete part of our chromosomes that gets repaired or found when we hit New Orleans. Some of us just belong here." John Goodman
I know what it means to miss New Orleans. I belong there. And I am thankful for Hurricane Katrina helping me to realize that.
Until next time, my friends......please continue to Think Thankfully
