Aftermath

They were still sawing on the weekend. No rain, no winds, just preventive measures. Can you see it? The big tree had grown all around the overhead wires that run down the street. After many hours of sawing limbs, they had to leave little plugs of tree that had grown around the wires. You can maybe see the big one in the upper middle of this picture. There are several smaller ones as well. Deferred maintenance. If the trimming had been done regularly, the big limb might not have brought down wires on Tuesday and would not have brought repair folk to clean up the mess for the rest of the week.

What we all needed was the good man, A Zeitoun, of New Orleans. He is late of Syria and a very busy construction entrepreneur. Married to an American who has converted to Islam, father of three daughters and a step son. He stayed behind during Katrina because he had been through too many storms to be afraid of this one. He rowed his old canoe through the streets after the levee broke, helping many people along the way. He also came in contact with those sent to protect the city. Major failure of effort. Major disappointment of attitude.

Okay, that's what I read before I got mixed up with the audio. I thought I was in the first half, knowing I had only one more chapter to read before moving on to the second half. Instead, I'd opened the second half and went to the last chapter. It was there that I found that Zeitoun had been arrested at his own house, put in jail and made inaccessible to his wife. He was mistreated in many ways I won't know, released and the arresters refused to give him back his wallet with his driver's license and immigration papers. Money was stolen from him and all his friends who were arrested with him. By whom? The only people around were the military and the police. Disgusting. His wife was devastated and changed forever. He still loves New Orleans and The United States.

The worst part about the story is that it is true. I won't go back to read the bad bits that I missed due to my error. My faith in the goodness of people is fragile enough. I will have to be satisfied that the Zeitoun's are good people. The bigoted, inept, scared people responsible for helping New Orleans upright itself are now in Haiti. I live in fear.

What is the balm that soothes the savage breast or the mind troubled by the failure of some people to be civil? Mystery!! Fiction!! Calgon, take me away from the reality of life. Ms. Grafton takes me away in the Undertow. Good book, perfectly diverting. Kinsey Milhone is still trying to figure out her relationship with her family. Her landlord is still a sweetheart. Plenty of stuff happens. Perfect balm for Zeitoun. Before I leave that, just let me say that Zeitoun is very well written. I just have a low tolerance for intolerance.

I've gotten a lot done with my needlepoint. Pictures another day.