I was going to New Orleans for my N entry, however since I was so tired last night, my brain forgot...so I decided to do it for my O entry today. I was lucky enough to get to grow up in New Orleans from the age of 4 until 18. My parents and sister still live there and I enjoy going back to visit! I enjoyed living in the quaint suburb in Old Metairie and attending the Academy of the Sacred Heart for 12 years. I met absolutely wonderful people throughout those years that I am still friends and those I'll never forget.
My house
Although I was not there during Hurricane Katrina, I was still greatly affected by it. I was not in contact with my parents for 24 hours after it happened, and I was greatly relieved to find they were safe in Baton Rouge with my aunt and uncle. When Millsaps closed for those two weeks after the hurricane, I had no where to go. I could not go home. I was lucky enough to have a friend in Birmingham to take me in (which has partly led to my living here now...it is a wonderful city that reminds me of NOLA in some ways). Not only was it hard being apart from my family, but it was there most odd and disturbing feeling to know that everyone whom you encountered every day in your life for 14 years had up and spread across the United States...fighting for their safety, home, and livelihood at every second. My heart hurt for my family and friends terribly. I am lucky to have gotten back in contact with a lot of my friends from them, however there will always be those lost to the confusion and tragedy that was Katrina. In the following months, as I returned to New Orleans, I realized I was driving back into a different city. Yes, I toured the parts that were hit the hardest, but that is not what affected me most. It was the people. There was a blanket depression that seemed to spread itself over the city. People's ways of living had been dramatically altered because of school closings, homes losts, and the loss of friends and family members to the flood and to relocation. It was extremely hard to keep returning home this situation.
The Fam in front of St. Louis Cathedral
However, in the true New Orleans spirit, people began to recover it seemed. By Mardi Gras of the next year, the true spirit of New Orleans had been re-birthed and has grown stronger ever since. Since returning home in the past couple of years, I have seen the city use this opportunity to grow and change for the better. It has made me become a tourist in my own hometown. Here are just some of the pictures I have taken recently...I will try to go back in my archives at a later date and pull out even better ones.
NEW ORLEANS, PROUD TO CALL MY HOMETOWN!
City Park
French Quarter Entertainers and Musicians
Jax Brewery
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