I went to N.O. to be with my brother, Ray, because he had a serious heart attack on my birthday, October 15. I say serious because they coded him twice and used the paddles while he was in the Emergency Room. Thank you Pat for not arguing with him about going to the hospital. Or maybe I should thank Ray for not arguing with Pat about going. Well, it was tight for a while and then he started coming around, sore as heck from all of the chest compressions, and then he started having a lot of conjestion. With broken or strained ribs anything that causes you to move such as laughing, coughing, moving about, moving your arms, etc., causes pain. Then I entered the room. "Little brother, if you did this for my birthday, what do you have planned for my Christmas present?" Couldn't help it. Somehow when I go to a hospital I can't think of much that isn't funny.
Enjoyed visiting with son Shane, mother-in-law Dot, and all of the girls along with Geno. And of course, Nell's Diner and B&B was running at full blast, Nell being my Mom. We spent a considerable amount of time at the hospital and finally late Thursday afternoon they released Ray to come home. Much to his gratification even though it was questionable for some hours while the hospital was trying to get the paperwork and oxygen for his house. Since he and Pat said that I wasn't needed I bid them farewell and packed for leaving the next day.
Before we start on the return trip I would like to acquaint you with the area where I use to live. I lived in Harvey, LA on Orchid Drive for over 40 years. I still go back there to visit some friends and neighbors most trips home. Since most of South Louisiana is below sea level, I thought I'd show a pic or two and some of the surrounding area.
Water pumps in other parts of the world usually refer to a pump on top of or beneath the ground in a well that supplies water for personal or farm use. In S. LA. it has a whole different meaning. It is a station with pumps that are designed to pump water from a canal and send it to another canal so that you won't have to tread water too long when it floods.
This and the above pic is the Hero Pumping Sta. located at the corner of Patriot Street and Destrahan Ave. in Harvey on the Westbank of the Harvey Canal, which is really the Intracoastal Waterway that runs from Brownsville, TX around the Gulf of Mexico to the tip of Fla. and up the Atlantic coast. These 3 large pumps can pull about 360,000 gallons of water a minute from the drainage canal and discharge it into the ICWW.
They even have their own emergency electric power in case a storm takes out the power line supplying them. The pumping station just below this one has several diesel engines to augment the electric driven pumps at that location. That station is about 4 times larger than this one.
This is the Patriot St. Canal leading to your right and a cross over canal that leads to the Lapalco Canal where a larger pumping station is located. Oh, there are fish in these canals, but I wouldn't eat them, there are some Neutreau Rats along with some Alligators. And since they drain a large area, I wouldn't suggest swimming in them either.
This is looking back at the in-take side of the pumping station. When the canal is full you can see all kinds of stuff pulled up against the in-take structure. It has to be cleaned often when pumping as debris will gather up at the in-take point. Including refrigerators, lumber, trees, etc. Probably a body or two had gone through as well.
Destrahan Avenue was once a bustling road of businesses, mostly oil field related. There was a lot of off-shore oil equipment manufactured here, service companies, barge builders, tug boat repair shops, etc., but now there are a lot of vacant yards and building. One business that has expanded is one that builds aluminum boats for excursions and other such uses. They are really beautiful boats which mostly go to the Caribbean area or Bahamas.
The elevated Westbank Expressway crosses the ICWW, Harvey Canal, just a short distance from the area the aluminum boats are built. It does not open as it is high enough for most all boats using the canal. If not, the boat has to lower it's antennae. Or bend it a little so that it doesn't scrape the bottom of the bridge.
My house is the first residential neighborhood West of the Harvey Canal which is approx. one half mile away. It is on a quiet street and doesn't normally have much traffic except for those that live on the street since it's not a major thoroughfare. It was sold in March of 2007.
This is the backyard of the house. The lot is small compared to where I live now and to many other subdivisions in the area. But it was a nice place to live except for the occassional indoor swimming pool when it flooded.
The house was built in 1967 and it was the first house I owned. The boys were raised here as Shane was just 3 mos. old when it was purchased. We had great neighbors and use to throw block parties often. Real family affairs. Garages were opened, tables set up, food from each house delivered and fun and feasting held until you were sated.
Here's a shot of the highrise bridge over the Harvey Canal looking toward the Canal. It is really a pretty overhead expressway. I was amazed at how easily they seemed to construct it. A lot of the materials were pre-constructed and hauled to the location to be installed.
Standing in the same location as the above shot but looking in the opposite direction. Converging roadways, as it appears but not in reality. Love these type photos.
Here's a shot of my Mom's house in Marrero. Sweet Thang is parked on the side driveway so we can get the car out for the hospital runs. Mom refused to ride the bike. Even after I told here I would buy her a helmet. Crazy woman, why ride inside when you can ride outside in the air.
All that greenery in front blooms during the spring and summer along with all kinds of stuff further in the front along the fence, on each side fence and in the back yard also. She has a green thumb and her whole neighborhood knows it. Since she has had two strokes she can't work her gardens and that makes her angry. Mom is 91. Time to look at it instead of growing it.
This was a sunset from her backyard late one afternoon while I was there.
Then Friday morning, Oct. 24, I pulled out of her driveway and headed for TN. It was about 57 degrees, nice and cool which makes Sweet Thang sound off with her alto voice.
Crossing the I-10 bridge across Lake Ponchatrain, sun is slowly coming up.
Just a few minutes more and the colors had already changed. I just love sunsets and sunrises but catch more of the sunsets due to laziness in getting up tooooo early.
Across the lake and up I-59 all the way to Chattanooga where it meets I-24. Flat in LA and lower MS but then turns to nice rolling hills. The further you go the higher the hills get until you start seeing the mountain ridges in northern AL.
Coming into Smoky City as it once was called. Now they just refer to it as Birmingham, AL. Of course back in those days there were numerous foundries, steel mills, and cast mills which caused the smoke. Today as this picture shows, it is clear as can be.
In Northern Alabama the trees are just beginning to turn. Cold weather hasn't gotten there to much yet. Give them about 2 weeks and those faded greens and light yellows will have another look about them.
And when you start seeing the mountains you sort of get a shiver over your body. Home at last, home at last, good God Almighty, home at last. I just love those mountains. My problem is that I love those mountains wherever they may be located.
It was a trying week, a week filled with worry and need but a week that prayers said came true. Bro is doing well as I talked with him today. Mom is settling down from her number one job, Worrier of the World, and I feel a bit more easy that all is going well. The ride down was fast and furious, no time for pics, just gas and go. Coming back the time was just about as fast but the traffic was worse. All in all, it was a 1278 mile journey which has ended well. Family visited, life saved, friends met, and all are safe. Take care my friends, enjoy your life each day for there is always the chance you won't be there tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment