This word sounds like something that's used to tune a bass clarinet, but "contraflow" (a word that has only recently entered my vocabulary) pertains to the redirection of traffic for purposes of evacuation. Namely, the evacuation of the greater New Orleans area.
And where, you might ask, are the other members of my family?
My brother is happily holed up in his dorm in Natchitoches, probably continuing to play online war games against his dorm-mates, eating mac and cheese, watching videos.
My mother and father, much to my consternation, have decided to stay put. That's right kids, a category FIVE hurricane is headed straight for the greater New Orleans area, and my parents are holing up in their house in Slidell with Max the dachsund and their recent purchases from Sam's Club, and they plan to wait it out. I'm not an alarmist by nature. I've sat through many hurricanes, calmly putting tape on the windows and putting the old piano up on books and going to the grocery to get gallons of water and later in the dorm, going down to Kroger to rent videos in preparation for the hurricane party to be held while school was closed and the city curfew was in effect. But when a hurricane of this magnitude shows up, you get the heck out and that's all there is to it. I don't know if my folks have become senile or just plain old ornery, but this "we've weathered it before, we'll do it again" mentality makes me very nervous.
Pray hard y'all, this could be the big one. And if it does, I just might be getting married on the Algiers ferry after all - providing that the riverbanks are still intact.
And to anyone who lives in the region, be safe and check in when you get a moment.
3 comments:
I cannot believe that your parents live south of the interstate and they are still staying. I am worried sick for them. Please email me when you hear from them, and if I can't get through on the phones to some people on my end, I would love it if you would give it a shot. I am not a hurricane alarmist either, but I remember Andrew, which was a baby storm compared to this one, and I still had waves lapping at my front door. Family is in Jackson with the exception of my brother in law, who needs to get a clue, who is in Houston with the water buffalo. I mean hi, her hair looks nice.
We're doing fine in Jackson. Rob is up here and might have to start paying rent if the damage estimates coming out of New Orleans turn out to be accurate. I'm a bit worried about Mom's place - the eye passed right over Slidell. She's in Memphis with her neighbors though, so at least she's out of danger.
My brother's school is talking about canceling the extended weekend for labor day as a lot of kids from the lower areas might have nowhere to go. MADNESS.
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