NOLA: A Bridge Too Far
NOLA: A Bridge Too Far
A Short Story by Mark Oglesby
Even as an Army vet who survived Vietnam, I never imaged something like this taking place; never dreamed I’d stay alive on those fateful days after Katrina hit. But please, first a little history, to, pardon the pun; wet your appetite!
Katrina was a devastating, deadly hurricane that hit Florida and Louisiana in August of 05; God it was horrid. According to news reports:
“It caused catastrophic damage particularly in the city of New Orleans,” whereas: “Subsequent flooding, caused largely as a result of fatal engineering flaws in the flood protection system known as levees, triggered a major loss of lives.” And the report continued:
“The storm originated over the Bahamas,” and so I heard on the NNA’s nightly news program as that glowing little lass, Prudence Pixy; and damn if she didn’t look exactly like Kelly Ripa from the morning show Kelly and Michael on the rival ABC Television Network stated ever so dynamically “…the merger of a tropical wave, and the remnants of Tropical Depression Ten, which intensified into a tropical storm as it headed westward toward Florida. Katrina made landfall and slammed into Gulfport, Mississippi: Devastating it!” Damn, if she wasn’t so exited about that storm!
“Overall,” while maintaining her composure and professionalism, “at least 1,836 people died in the hurricane and subsequent floods making Katrina the deadliest United States hurricane since 1928!” Checking her facts and statistics, Prudence Pixy crinkly if not pursed her lips while stating for the record: “Severe property damage occurred in numerous coastal areas! Water reached,” and I swear I could hear an actual drum-roll in the background, “six through twelve miles inland from the beach. The total property damage was estimated at $125 billion!” Her eyes becoming as large as Silver American Eagle Dollars.”
Hey listen, over fifty breaches in surge protection levees surrounding the city of NOLA or New Orleans, La was the leading cause of death and destruction contributed to Katrina. 80% of the city, as well as large tracts of neighboring parishes, flooded as the waters lingered for weeks.
Most of the transportation and communication networks servicing New Orleans were damaged or disabled by the flooding and tens of thousands of people who hadn’t evacuated prior to the hurricane hitting land became stranded with little access to food, shelter or your basic necessities: Myself being one of them. Later, I’ll explain!
There were also widespread criticisms of emergency responses from federal, state and local governments! Many administration officials were criticized for their non-responses including: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and President of the United States of America: George W. Bush: God bless ‘em all!
Now as stated above, many a poor soul, as in, those living in severe poverty, people of color mostly, were stranded with little or no access to food, shelter or your everyday basic necessities; and while most of these everyday basic necessities were never a reality to begin with, damn, if the storm damage didn’t just make it worse. And with that, let me detail what I’ve gone through and how I ended up in my present situation high atop a three-story apartment building. And oh by the way: My name’s Jackson and I’m seventy-five years old turning that magical number just earlier this week: Happy birthday to me/I’m another year old today!
To begin, let me state emphatically: I like many in my neighborhood were told to evacuate as soon as possible which sounded good on its face but again, damn; where the hell were we goin’ and how the hell were we gonna get there? Again, “there” being that mythological creature residing in the psyches of white politicians and your average god damned banksters and corporate executives! Oh and by the way: These fortunate rich white folk had ample time, means and opportunity to flee the scene. Wouldn’t you?
Anyways, what with the buses down due to the storm and what with no one in the neighborhood having any secure automobile transportation, running that is; we began our exodus, while actually singing Bob Marley’s Exodus no less, as we marched behind the Right Reverent Robert Reed. Honestly, we all silently laughed every Sunday morning while attending the quadruple ‘R’ worship service. Anyways, “our” Moses led us forward.
And damn if we didn’t put into practice our own parting of the Red Sea experience and wasn’t it ever amazing? But listen to me now: We wasn’t supposed to be the damned Egyptians now were we? And damn if those white pharaoh mothers weren’t the ones to cross the Red Sea unscathed: I cried: “Reverend Reed?”
“What brother Jackson?”
“Those white devils are all safe. How’s a come we all’s a drowning?”
“Have faith brother Jackson! Have faith!”
“Damn?” I shouted back as I choose a different path and set out on my own.
“The Lord forgive you brother Jackson! The Lord forgive!” Actually, I doubt it completely! Anyways, my solo ascent begin as I choose the highest building in sight and started to climb. “The Lord forgive you Brother Jackson!” as the righteous shouts of the Right Reverent Robert Reed echoed off in the distance. And so what became of the quadruple ‘R’ and his merry band of lost Israelites? I’ll never know as it seems doubtful that I’ll survive.
But listen, I’m tellin’ this here story ain’t I? So really now, I live to tell the tale and I’m grateful. But as for the Reverent Reed and his followers? I’m still unaware if they lived or died; oblivious as to their fate. But as the good Reverent always says: “God knows where you are all the time!” ‘Always’ seemed ominous too me. Hate to say it though, but those poor folk are God’s problem then as of now.
And as to that building I climbed? Three story apartment building as I needed every foot to keep clear of the raising waters. Again, as grateful a blackman that has ever been and no doubt that the good Lord, which at the time of my apartment building interment; I was not so inclined to be a callin’ God “good” in any circumstance whatsoever! And here’s why:
Firstly, I went seven days and eight nights without food; nothing but an aching stomach. Next, I did drink the flood waters but they were horribly bitter; symbolically if not literally, but it kept me alive. And yes, the diarrhea was ghastly if not painful. Also, I was forced, as hard as it might be, to turn my head; to watch the dead and dying bodies of men, women and children; you know, colored folk; float by on their journey to nowhere, the present situation of poor black folk alive at this time in the city of New Orleans; in nearly all American cities existing in the nation. I’m so sorry Reverent Reed for my impertinence, my very irreverence towards “your” Lord but I cannot stay with the faith under circumstances such as these.
Now the horrors I witnessed from my third story sanctuary will haunt me the rest of my life which ain’t long whereas the hospital staff requested a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order from my children who cried all the while they signed. What were they to do? It was that bad! And so here I lie in my isolation known as “coma” hoping and kinda praying that’ll be a quick, painless departure from this world of sorrow and sh&t!
And as the Monte Python song Always Look On the Brightside of Life plays over and over and over in my head, my very heart and soul; I can’t help but wonder what became of the quadruple ‘R’ and his merry band of lost Israelites? Perhaps God saved them after all? And ifin’ he did? Well heaven help them as there’s nothing much left to go back to as that whiter-than-white effervescent Pixy would proclaim after the waters receded:
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life! Back to you Pamela in New York City, New York!” Hey Prudence, you vivacious, sparkling teeny whiff of a little woman: This’ all we’ve ever seen, known and experienced in “our” entire lives; humble as they may be! And everybody sing along with me:
Some things in life are bad they can really make you mad Other things just make you swear and curse When you're chewin’ on life’s gristle, don’t grumble give a whistle And this’ll help things turn out for the best
And always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life
If life seems jolly rotten there’s something you’ve forgotten And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing When you’re feeling in the dumps don’t be silly chumps Just purse your lips and whistle, that’s the thing
And always look on the bright side of life
Come on, always look on the bright side of life
For life is quite absurd and death’s the final word You must always face the curtain with a bow Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin Enjoy it it’s your last chance anyhow
So always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath
Life’s a piece of sh$t when you look at it Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke it’s true You’ll see it’s all a show keep ‘em laughing as you go Just remember that the last laugh is on you
And always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
Come on Jackson, cheer up
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
Worse things happen at sea you know
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life