Hi Everyone,
Sixteen years ago, Hurricane Katrina caused almost two thousand deaths and extensive damage to New Orleans when levees failed and most of the city was underwater. Exactly sixteen years later to the day, Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm with 150-mph winds, caused considerable wind and water damage. Thankfully the levees held, and the cost in terms of number of human lives lost and the damage is much lower.
I was in my 20's when Hurricane Katrina arrived and evacuated from New Orleans with a young woman I had just started dating, named Jennifer, traveling to her parent's house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It's a little different this time as we evacuated as married homeowners with our two kids and our cat named Gozer. Despite our fears of what was happening back in New Orleans, I felt well taken care of while we were in Alabama, I enjoyed my mother in law's comfort food and the warm embrace of family.
Once power was restored, we returned home sixteen days later on September 10th. A lot of our neighbors have extensive damage to their roofs but fortunately ours held. We do have some damage to the outside of our house but thankfully our house is structurally sound. Unfortunately, we did get water inside my studio and it looks like I am going to have to say goodbye to these three large paintings which took on water . Perhaps they can be salvaged in some way, but they are no longer available for sale on my website.
