I went by Twickler’s this morning to get some flashing and he said that he drove out to Chalmette and was disheartened by everything he saw – “whole strip malls and corners that were once vibrant and bustling are dead” “the Corrugated company with building after building, it’s all nothing now” “inside there used to be machines and rolls and rolls of aluminum, now there is nothing” “one guy is sitting at a desk with a laptop that looks like a Mickey Mouse toy because each desk used to have a big computer and there was desk after desk” “there was a machine like this one, where this old Black guy Charlie ran it with a younger guy name Kyle. Kyle didn’t come back. Charlie’s there, but the machine is rusted and needs repair” “the guys used to walk around with joy in their step and now they are dragging themselves around like they are ghosts.”
He said I can’t get the smell of what I saw out of my nose. It seemed hopeless.
I said, good lord Mr. Twickler, I’m trying to look on the bright side. Midcity looked horrible but now a year later, it’s getting better. I hope Chalmette comes back.
He said, How? How is it going to come back? It’s devastated. I don’t feel hope.
I feel hope, I told him. That’s all we have is hope.