Indigo Skies......

While finishing our Christmas shopping Friday, J. and I came across an odd little shop tucked behind one of the most popular rows of beach shops in Orange Beach. I don't know why I've never noticed it before. It was as if it was trying not to be noticed. One step in and I realized why it was so low key.

It was mostly filled with items that many probably call New Age. I know that a shop of that sort can cause some tsk, tsk-ing in these parts. I saw some lovely clay figurines that I wish I could describe -- from an artist colony in Oregon. I came so close to buying one for son #3, but (after considering the price) thought other things were higher on his list. Maybe for his birthday. I did pick him up a print -- sort of medieval art with a lot going on and in the middle (almost hidden) is a knight and his lady. It's cool. I had decided to give the kids each a beach print for Christmas as a memory of spending the holiday here but thought son #3would like this print better.

In a corner of a back room I spyied another box of prints and started looking through them. They were NOLA/French Quarter themed. Just the thing for son #2, I thought -- much of his teen years were spent learning his way around the Quater (I was amazed to learn this after-the-fact. Scared the shi%% out of me.) Before Katrina the majority of his work was in New Orleans. After Katrina he had lost his work and two friends. Like many people I know, I don't think he's been back since the storm.

I started out sorting through the New Orleans prints with a smile, thinking about some of the adventures son #2 has shared with me of how he and his frinds would sneak down the road to NOLA for a night of ....I don't even want to think about it. Before finishing looking through the prints, I was surprised by the tears that had sprung to my eyes and the realization that I didn't know what memories the print would bring son #2. "Better stick with a beach print," I said to J. with a catch in my voice. "I don't know if son #2 is ready for this."

As we turned to leave the room we were surprised to see an older man sitting on a couch. He was turned with his face away from us as if he was attempting to be invisible. I swear neither J. nor I noticed him when we walked into the small room. We felt as if we were intruding. But, before I could walk out of the room, the man was standing in front of me. He gave me a tender hug, and said, "Thank you for not forgetting."

Looking back, I think the shop owner reads fortunes, and maybe the man was there for that and wasn't eager to be seen. I don't know, but it was odd. What I do know is that it reminded me of how so many are still suffering. Many have become quite good at hiding it -- maybe even from themselves -- but they are still hurting. And there is so little help available. I heard today that more housing (for all income levels) is becoming available in NOLA. I hope this is true. Of course, the source was FEMA, so -- take it for what it's worth....