Left In Katrina's Wake

Many years ago I worked for a contact lens manufacturer, and we had a factory in Puerto Rico.  The first week I worked there, there was a hurricane that destroyed the roof of the factory and threatened our company's existence.  It was clear that in the global economy I'd better learn more about the things I didn't know that could have an impact on my life.  I had just gotten that job and my company could not re-open production on its most popular product - colored contact lenses - for three months - it almost put our lights out.  Ultimately it lead to our company being bought by Bain - and that became a nightmare in itself, but that's another post.

I learned how deadly a hurricane can be, when hurricane season was, and that its's best to clear out and plan on returning when its all over - no use trying to be a hero in a hurricane - it's bigger than you are, and its the deadly aftermath that winds up killing everyone or ruining one's health.

Years later Hurricane Marilyn was headed to St. Croix, where a friend of the family was living and I advised that he come home.  He could find a place to hide out in Chicago, but he decided to stay down there.  After spending two days in his bathtub, he emerged to a new world and no fresh drinking water - like I said, it's the aftermath that can kill. It took years for the island to bounce back, and some things were never the same.

A few years after that we went to visit this friend in St. Croix, and as luck would have it, a hurricane was hot on our heels back to the States.  I was tracking the storm like Al Roker, I was so worred that we wouldnt get out of there in time.  When we arrived at the half way point in Miami, the airline had the nerve to ask if we would give up our tickets for flights the next day and stay in Miami for free to endure the coming hurricane.  People were running around that airport like chickens with their heads cut off and frantically trying to get on the first thing smoking to get out of the way of the hurricane.  I couldn't wait to get out of there, they had a better shot at asking me to join the Klan!

So when Katrina was on its way to New Orleans, and I was working for a company that had many ties to the Crescent City in the form of its hard working employees, I spent many sleepless hours making  suggestions to them about how to get out, where to go so they could safely wait out the storm.  Many downplayed the danger, but I had seen this movie too many times to take it lightly.  

Ironically, I had planned a trip to New Orleans a few weeks after the storm was expected to hit.  I was anticipating eating a great dinner at Commander's Palace, drinking a genuine hurricane, and getting back to a chicken and waffle restaurant that had the best drumsticks I had ever eaten in my life.

In the wake of this terrible crisis it was clear that my return to New Orleans would be postponed.  After watching hours of TV news that depicted hundreds and hundreds of tragic stories of loss, and the death of over 1,800 people - Katrina seemed like Mother Nature's version of a beat down!

The vast majority of the city was underwater. The levees broke and water flooded the urban area.  People tried to find refuge in the Super Dome, a place I had visited when I went to see the Super Bowl in 2002.  All of those people trying to be rescued, stretching the city's strained resources to the breaking point - it was another indictment of the Presidency of someone who didn't take things seriously.  Better planning would have saved those hundreds of lives. 

We must never forget the lessons of Katrina.  Life is too precious to take for granted, and tomorrow is not guaranteed.  If you have warning of a disaster coming, prepare for the worst, even as you pray for the best.  It's better to live in temporary exile than to be wiped out altogether.

The Cali Rap Game - Part One

How to make sure your child develops a healthy appreciation of history - ask them to tell you the background of their favorite singing group - then stand back and find out what a scholar they are on the subject, right Eryn and Ryann???  I found out the name of every single person Taylor Swift had even THOUGHT about dating - keep that tradition going, girls!

The story of N.W.A. (Niggas With Attitude..) told in the new film, "Straight Outta Compton", gives you a good starting point. I used to read all of the articles back in the day, so I do remember most of it.  

Ice Cube was a street smart poet from a stable family, Dr. Dre was a brother much like the brothers I grew up with who helped put House Music on the map.  He was getting as much DJ work as he could and dreaming of a life on the next level.  Easy E was a brother who made his money the hard way - he was the dopeman. But once he put his organizational and management skills to better use, he made it possible for he and his friends to put out a product that was legal but habit forming - a take down rap that resonated with the whole country.  

You may not be into rap, and even I didn't buy rap that denigrated women or the police, but I loved a good rap song, especially since the background music was usually a hit record that sold millions.  

If you want to learn about the roots of rap from Cali - start here!

This story is one that everyone should see - it's like "A Star is Born" for rap music - everybody was waiting on a break - then they go to the top, some keep soaring in different trajectories, and some just fall back to earth with a thud - but they do rise again.

You'll love the songs, the action, and the maturation of a great group of guys. Like other stars, they got hooked up with someone who didn't know what he was doing, took advantage of them, and wound up leaving them in debt. Talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire, they escaped that situation and some got involved with the infamous Suge Knight.  They don't pull any punches in telling that story, either - whew!!!!

What's missing is the story of the East Coast West Coast rivalry - that's another movie, so save me an aisle seat. Go get all your money and check out a true summer gem - the music and memories are well worth it.