Do You Know What It Means?

I had a perfectly lovely post planned out in my head. And now I can't find the words. I've tried to express today what it is like to be here, and how hard it is to now be one of those people, the ones that need to make that choice, the ones that need to leave their homes, the ones that are saying goodbye to a city they love. I tried to explain and the words fail.

Anyone who reads this blog knows I have a passionate love for this city, one that borders on slight insanity. Yet I've been thinking about leaving it. So why is it so hard for me to walk away this weekend?

Because I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what might be lost. I fear that another hit and the city will be gone. The buildings might survive but the life won't come back.

After only a short time, New Orleans lives in me. I want to take her spirit where I go, create her foods, hear her music and smile. If the life of this city is gone, think of what it is that we will lose.

It's late, and it's been a long day.
I'm coming home. At least through Tuesday. But I'll be watching Gustav, and crossing my fingers, and praying like I've never prayed before that our city is spared. More thoughts will come, I'm sure, when I'm away from this place that has managed to slip under my skin.