BlueskyStudio--Ocean Springs - Katrina -Ocean Ave./Jackson

:: POSTCARDS. of a different sort ::

K A T R I N A' S .. . W R A T H

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Ocean Ave/Jackson ... 90 Bridge/Front Beach [West of Washington]

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Early Monday morning, Nov. 7, we drove west on Ocean Ave. and stopped in front of

First Presbyterian Church, located at 921 Ocean Ave.

The damage to the environment on this quaint, narrow street was truly heartbreaking.

However, as I was trying to take in the magnitude of the changes from a year ago,

I saw in front of the church that new life was present among the dry leaves

.....

Across the street from the church, the beautiful green iron fence lies on its side.

As I was looking west down the street, the damage was all but too evident.

I would not believe what I was about to see.

Last year when we were here, we stopped and I got out to make pictures.

I was amazed at the fact that this little area was so heavily wooded right in town and so close to the beach.

It was such a magical little space which offered homes for wildlife.

.....

Driving toward Jackson Ave., things have changed. Photo on the left shows Ocean Ave. in Nov. 2004.

The 10' Clearance sign and it's branch from a year ago.

This begins an area of great loss,

yet within that loss, miracles of survival appear as evidenced by the home with the red door.

I had seen this cute Victorian cottage last year, which is just down from the church, but failed to take a picture.

I was glad to see that it survived while all around it the damage is almost beyond belief.

Close by, a river of debris left by Katrina...

A multitude of remnants of homes lost to Katrina lies in this low area... a debris river.

I get an impression of sound

and of water furiously flooding through here filled with pieces of people's lives... a French door,

windows, 2 x 4 s, concrete blocks, bricks, flooring, pillows, and among many toys – a toy stove.

The debris river lies immediately behind, and in the backyard of, this home with the blue tarp roof.

I cannot imagine the cleanup process.

If there was just some magic sky-hook with an enormous, universe-sized vacuum to suck it all up,

perhaps then this landscape of losses could begin to revive itself and breathe again

with some sense of normalcy and inner peace.

Looking east back down Ocean at the corner of Ocean and Jackson Ave.

The blue tarp roofed house can be seen at the side.

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