Comments on: K + 2 Anniversary http://noteworthyinnola.com/2007/08/28/k-2-anniversary/ The ordinary pleasures of everyday New Orleans Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:40:39 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Charlie http://noteworthyinnola.com/2007/08/28/k-2-anniversary/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Charlie Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:20:08 +0000 http://noteworthyinnola.com/index.php/2007/08/28/k-2-anniversary/#comment-4 Last year I took part in a memorial service sponsored by levees.org at the newly rebuilt wall of the 17th Street canal. The speeches tapped into our anger and sorrow in turn. At the conclusion, each of us climbed a wooden platform by the wall to drop flowers into the water–1,300-odd long-stemmed carnations, one for each of the dead. Standing on the platform, you could stare numbly through tear-filled eyes at the hundreds of flowers bobbing in the still water, and then turn to gaze out across the vast reaches of ruined homes and empty streets. That was the moment when I truly understood the extent of our devastation, and I still can’t think back to it without tearing up again. So I’m skipping the ceremonies because I have all the ceremony I need, one that always be with me. Last year I took part in a memorial service sponsored by levees.org at the newly rebuilt wall of the 17th Street canal. The speeches tapped into our anger and sorrow in turn. At the conclusion, each of us climbed a wooden platform by the wall to drop flowers into the water–1,300-odd long-stemmed carnations, one for each of the dead. Standing on the platform, you could stare numbly through tear-filled eyes at the hundreds of flowers bobbing in the still water, and then turn to gaze out across the vast reaches of ruined homes and empty streets.

That was the moment when I truly understood the extent of our devastation, and I still can’t think back to it without tearing up again. So I’m skipping the ceremonies because I have all the ceremony I need, one that always be with me.

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