Sometimes Older is Better: A Thought For the South
“Get me back on my feet again
Back on my feet again
Open the door and set me free
Get me back on my feet again”
Randy Newman
My heart goes out to the good folks who have lost so much in the south from the Hurricane Katrina. I cannot imagine their loss.
And while I certainly understand people who want newer homes, perhaps there is a lesson here for homeowners: They built them better a long time ago. The older houses will still stand when the newer ones have scattered throughout the South.
I live in an older house and we (my wife, two cats, and me) are very pleased with it. Ours was built in 1914 and it is not going anywhere. Sure, we had to replace the plumbing as the feeling of a hot shower was excruciating when someone flushed the toilet or ran water.
Yes, the electricity was replaced as well because of power surges every time the heater or the air conditioning kicked on—but it gives the house some charm; as does the creaky floors, the drafty windows, curved bathroom wall and the strangeness of having a huge utility closet in the bathroom for no reason when the other ones are so small that we need to step outside to change our minds.
Learn a lesson folks—old houses are simply built better.
Learn another lesson, folks—older Presidents in our country's history were simply made better.
I will not Bash President Bush today as no President could expect the damage done by this storm. It is a natural disaster and he deserves no blame. However, for his other more “human” disasters, well…he is fair game for criticisms. I hope the military personnel are more understanding to the troop members whose families were harmed. I hope we send some federal relief to the region, and I hope we “liberate” our people in the South (regardless of socio-economic status or race) from the “terrors” they have received this week. Remember, for my right-wing friends, the South voted for this administration--please deliver the people the strength they need--and I mean physical and material, here. This is the time to help our brethern.
Again, from Randy Newman:
“Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)
We've taken all you've given
But it's gettin' hard to make a livin'
Mr. President have pity on the working man
We ain't asking for you to love us
You may place yourself high above us
Mr. President have pity on the working man
I know it may sound funny
But people ev'ry where are runnin' out of money
We just can't make it by ourself
It is cold and the wind is blowing
We need something to keep us going
Mr. President have pity on the working man
Maybe you're cheatin'
Maybe you're lyin'
Maybe you have lost your mind
Maybe you're only thinking 'bout yourself
Too late to run.
Too late to cry now
The time has come for us to say good-bye now
Mr. President have pity on the working man
Mr. President have pity on the working man”
I am hoping the current administration does the right thing and helps our citizens out as much as we jump (with) the gun to save others.
Speaking of Randy Newman--all of these lyrics from his ironic Good Old Boys album--I thought I would leave you with his lyrics from Louisiana.
“Louisiana
What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has done
To this poor crackers land."
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away…”
May your people and our fellow countrymen and women find some solace and some peace in these troubled times. Let us not wash away the lives and memories of these bold and noble people.
Back on my feet again
Open the door and set me free
Get me back on my feet again”
Randy Newman
My heart goes out to the good folks who have lost so much in the south from the Hurricane Katrina. I cannot imagine their loss.
And while I certainly understand people who want newer homes, perhaps there is a lesson here for homeowners: They built them better a long time ago. The older houses will still stand when the newer ones have scattered throughout the South.
I live in an older house and we (my wife, two cats, and me) are very pleased with it. Ours was built in 1914 and it is not going anywhere. Sure, we had to replace the plumbing as the feeling of a hot shower was excruciating when someone flushed the toilet or ran water.
Yes, the electricity was replaced as well because of power surges every time the heater or the air conditioning kicked on—but it gives the house some charm; as does the creaky floors, the drafty windows, curved bathroom wall and the strangeness of having a huge utility closet in the bathroom for no reason when the other ones are so small that we need to step outside to change our minds.
Learn a lesson folks—old houses are simply built better.
Learn another lesson, folks—older Presidents in our country's history were simply made better.
I will not Bash President Bush today as no President could expect the damage done by this storm. It is a natural disaster and he deserves no blame. However, for his other more “human” disasters, well…he is fair game for criticisms. I hope the military personnel are more understanding to the troop members whose families were harmed. I hope we send some federal relief to the region, and I hope we “liberate” our people in the South (regardless of socio-economic status or race) from the “terrors” they have received this week. Remember, for my right-wing friends, the South voted for this administration--please deliver the people the strength they need--and I mean physical and material, here. This is the time to help our brethern.
Again, from Randy Newman:
“Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)
We've taken all you've given
But it's gettin' hard to make a livin'
Mr. President have pity on the working man
We ain't asking for you to love us
You may place yourself high above us
Mr. President have pity on the working man
I know it may sound funny
But people ev'ry where are runnin' out of money
We just can't make it by ourself
It is cold and the wind is blowing
We need something to keep us going
Mr. President have pity on the working man
Maybe you're cheatin'
Maybe you're lyin'
Maybe you have lost your mind
Maybe you're only thinking 'bout yourself
Too late to run.
Too late to cry now
The time has come for us to say good-bye now
Mr. President have pity on the working man
Mr. President have pity on the working man”
I am hoping the current administration does the right thing and helps our citizens out as much as we jump (with) the gun to save others.
Speaking of Randy Newman--all of these lyrics from his ironic Good Old Boys album--I thought I would leave you with his lyrics from Louisiana.
“Louisiana
What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has done
To this poor crackers land."
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away…”
May your people and our fellow countrymen and women find some solace and some peace in these troubled times. Let us not wash away the lives and memories of these bold and noble people.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 7:12 PM
3 Comments:
Eric:
The last song was about the Mississippi River flood of 1927. I am reading a book about it right now.
Coolidge did not come to see the flood. He sent his vp instead.
The little fat guy with the notepad was Hoover. It was his handling of the disaster that gave him the reputation to become prez in 1928.
Trouble is the ground keeps sinking and the levees need to be raised. the old days, the river would overflow its banks and deposit some of that good topsoil. Now the river carries it down to the delta where they have jetties to divert the silt from filling up the shipping laes. This has destroyed the wetlands that protected NO from storms, allowing sea water up further into the Mississippi.
I have been to New Orleans three times. On one trip I took a bus tour of the city. We got out of the bus and stood on the levee. You could look back and clearly see that the city was a lot lower than Lake P.
Went to Mass at the Cathedral. As the priest was finishing with the blessing, one could hear all this music starting. Walked out of the Cathedral into Lafayette Square where there was a 4th of July party starting up.
In less than five minutes after mass, I had a cold beer to drink and hot jambalaya to eat. All of the restaurants had booths with food and drink a la Chicago Fest.
Lou Ann
OOPS--that was Jackson Square!!
Any rate, it would be a shame to lose this charming place.
Lou Ann
It is a shame. Pam went to New Orleans and thought it was a bit dark, but a bit cool and interesting as well. I am reminded of a passage i read once that said "there are a lot of old ghosts who wander through the French Quarter as it has a spirit of its own." Hopefully they will rebuild a cobbled brick street and some older buildings can be rebuilt to restore some luster and some charm.
Thanks for the comments. I hope you are enjoying the retirement. We all miss you. Send this blog to a few of our political friends, if you would. Owe you one...Guinness that is.
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