What were the odds that another hurricane would hit on the same day that Hurricane Katrina hit? Also, leaving a wake of destruction in its path. Apparently the odds were in favor of Mother Nature........cause that is exactly what Hurricane Ida did.
After Katrina, I vowed not to return to my hometown; yet the years changed my feelings and we returned back to Louisiana ten years later. Fast forward to 2021 and what was once a category 2 hurricane quickly intensified into almost a category 5 storm.
Glenn and I stayed.
It was a huge storm with severe winds up to 150 mph. Rain drops actually exploded into mist. Yes at times Glenn and I opened the front door to see the action.....but when a piece of flying debris almost hit Glenn's face........we shut the door and locked it.
Our phones were going off every 1/2 hour with intense wind alerts and we should take cover. I cleared out one of my closets so we would have a safe place to huddle. The only time I became afraid is when the wind was pushing rain into our bedroom windows, and our bedroom took on water. I really thought the windows were going to fly out of the frames.
We were the lucky ones. (Although we did have damage it does not compare to neighbors that had trees fall on their house and split their house open. Also, the many residents that are homeless and those that still are without power). It makes my heart ache.
My beautiful studio was spared except for the water that came in through the side seams. Immediately I got to work in there...........cleaning, and caulking. Again I was lucky. Since I do not have electricity in my studio, I was back to creating artwork. How could I not? Walking the dogs everyday and seeing the debris stack up gradually getting higher and higher. Trees that were 70 feet tall leaned over with giant root balls in the air. Precarious limbs of trees dangling and ready to fall at a slight breeze. Visually everything was out of sorts but this can't be ignored.
How weird it is that the newest work I have created in pencil and watercolors lend themselves to my latest drawing.....titled, "Ida" ( This piece still needs a watercolor wash and details, but I thought I would still share.) How lucky am I.
Christin
"Ida"
