When the levees broke...

August 29, 2005.

I left New Orleans on August 28, 2005 at 6:00 a.m. with my dog, my guinea pig, and my beta fish. I had four pairs of underwear, two pairs of shoes (both flip flops), two pairs of pants, and four shirts.

At the time, even as I left, it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be going back soon. I had already evacuated twice that year.

The next day, everything changed. I watched with the rest of the world as the Hurricane touched down. Everything seemed to pass normally. And then...

My guinea pig, Mephisto, wouldn't live to see New Orleans again. I took what classes I could in Little Rock. I bought a wardrobe, hugged total strangers, and waited for what news I could of my home.

When I could, I moved back. I never regretted it.

I put this in mixed media because the floor is a picture of my floor, the carpet is a picture of carpet from somewhere (I think it's my Mom's), and the wall is a parchment texture that Graver created. The rest is digital coloring in PSP X.