Someday Memphis will experience a large earthquake. I have heard this prediction for decades. When it does happen I will be horrified for the people and animals. Doug will be horrified by the loss of architecture and memories. Doug is a romantic. Not a flowers on your anniversary kind of romantic but a Byron-esque romantic who sees the past through a filter that makes it all seem wonderful.
“The grass was greener
The light was brighter
With friends surrounded
The nights of wonder”
As we are all captured by the horror Katrina left behind, Doug is a wounded soul, holding tightly to childhood memories of living in New Orleans. I want to take a caravan of buses down and bring children up to Knoxville like World War I refugees. I want to protect them from the pain and let them go to school and karate and play happily while their parents find new homes and jobs. What Doug needs will have to wait until the call comes out, but when it comes, he will go. Doug will need to go back in time and help rebuild the past so that New Orleans has a future.
“With friends surrounded
The dawn mist growing
The water flowing
The endless river
Forever and ever“