Hi Everyone,
Here is a copy of the note that Olwyn Mary couldn't get posted on Sat.
Hugs,
Nora
For those who came in late, we rode Katrina in New Orleans, and didn't leave town until the levees broke. I was sure our part of town would not flood (it didn't) but I was afraid of being caught in "moat effect". I already had bronchitis, but dh cannot drive after dark, so I drove all through the night to get to the house in a hick town outside Lake Charles where this woman had been calling me twice a day to say "when are you coming?".
Imagine my surprise when, after we arrived, she said "well, I know you sew, and you won't have anything to do while you are here, so you can make some clothes for my grandchildren".
I was not fit to do that at first, but I did make dinner two nights to have it ready when she got home from work.. Her poor, henpecked dh loved my cooking, and said so, but she refused to eat any of it and went and got something else. She is also an obsessive-compulsive cleaner, and goes round every evening attacking imaginary spots on the kitchen floor with a spray bottle and cloth. Her dh mentioned plaintively on more than one occasion "she won't even sit and watch a movie with me". Needless to say, she does not do any form of needlework.
I gradually got sicker, not better, went to the local walk-in clinic, but found that (a) they only operate 9 to 5, and (b) don't take insurance, which they don't tell you until after you have produced your card, and then they also won't take cash-apparently it is illegal. Oh well, off to the local ER to get some prescriptions renewed. Was so sick I didn't even protest when they told me I was going to the 4th floor. Was there for 9 days - the limit for pneumonia - the first week passed in a blur. DH spent all day every day at my side, and only went back to the house to sleep. Was discharged to the house of our hostess, with visiting nurse coming in daily. Meanwhile, hostess was getting nastier and nastier, even though we tried not to be any trouble at all, and stayed in our room whenever she was home. After all, she had begged us to come, and I didn't get sick deliberately.
Then Hurricane Rita came, pointing straight at where we were. No place to which to evacuate, not a hotel room in about 700 or 800 miles. Rode it out, and the next morning there was no damage to the house itself, just trees down all over.
After two days without electricity, this woman went completely berserk. She cannot live without central a/c and all her appliances. We tried to help, offering to do all the outdoor cooking etc., then she ordered us out. We only had =BE tank of gas, nowhere to go, and me sick. Oh well.
Got on the road - didn't dare use the a/c even though there was a heat advisory. Stopped two places where there was gas, waited in line nearly an hour, then the pumps ran dry just before our turn. Carried on, on fumes and a prayer, and made it to Baton Rouge. Found gas, then a decent meal (with a gin and tonic first. Wonderful!!) Called a friend, whom we knew was already sheltering other friends of ours whose home is under water, and she said OF COURSE we could sleep on her floor that night if we could move the furniture out of the way (tiny one person apt.)
Two days ago (? I think, I have completely lost track- maybe it is three days) We arrived here in Kenner, LA, which is a suburb of N.O but which has power, water, and some stores open, and are staying with long-time friends who live here. We are allowed back into the city today, so will go and check, and I will report back later. My area never flooded, so I am not expecting major damage, but who knows what utilites are available, we know the water is not drinkable.