Hard to Say He was Lucky, But…
by
The loss and devastation currently playing out in Myanmar cannot but remind us here in New Orleans of Hurricane Katrina. I’ve previously mentioned the loss of my grandparent’s fishing camp in Katrina. This was a colossal building — two stories, over 3,000 square feet, exterior walls all cinder blocks. But not all was lost. In the rubble was this:
This elephant lamp was on the second floor. How it survived in one piece, I can only imagine. The only thing more remarkable than its survival was that an identical black elephant lamp in another second-story bedroom of the camp also survived in one piece.
We recovered both lamps. My grandfather took them home and cleaned and rewired them. The black one went to my aunt, and the green one came to live with me:
If you shake him, you will hear one large, very solid clump of mud rattling inside. My grandfather, try as he might, could not break down and remove that last clump of evidence of Katrina from the elephant. I am kinda glad he couldn’t.
It’s stunning and how wonderful that they could be restored.
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That’s probably the coolest lamp ever and I think there’s something neat about having a piece of its history inside of it. I’m glad he couldn’t get the mud out either.
Katie’s last blog post..Silver Lining
I love that lamp. Very glad it could be saved.
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Asian legend says an elephant with an upturned trunk stands for good luck.
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Knowing how the Gulf Coast still suffers, I can only imagine what is going to happen in Myanmar.
I’m so glad you have something to remember from the fishing camp.
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You’ll have make sure Sun knows the whole story of the lamp (including the mud!).
I’m continually amazed at the items that survived Katrina. A house didn’t, but a coffee mug from inside came through without a scratch. We also had lamps make it. Wonder what it is with lamps? Lighting the way to rebirth?
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Wow, I can’t believe it survived!!! Amazing.
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That is amazing!! It looks beautiful!!
That’s a good looking lamp.
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What a great lamp! I have a ceramic rooster lamp that was my grandparents…as bizarre as it is, I love it.
Please tell me this doesn’t mean you’re voting republican now.
Eerie.
So so so eerie.
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I agree. I would feel the same way about that clump of mud.
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That brought a lump to my throat. While we have been extremely lucky and have weathered many hurricanes ourselves (including Opal in ’95) I can’t imagine the devastation you experienced from Katrina. I’m so glad you were able to save even these small memories of such a special place. I wouldn’t try to remove the mud either.
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I was just about to say the same thing someone else commented about the turned-up elephant trunk meaning good luck. What a precious find and beautifully restored piece.
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I had an aunt who had a collection of elephant-with-upraised-trunk figurines. Alas, her home was in Chalmette, so it was inundated to the roof by Katrina. They could find almost nothing to save in the debris. It’s wonderful that your grandfather’s elephant lamps survived. You and your aunt are lucky to have them, and I know you treasure them.
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Ditto to all of the above. I often think we have so many material objects that they fail to hold any significance. These lamps are true treasures.
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even though I’m a democrat, that’s a great lamp!
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Wow. What a great story. I am sure your family will cherish those lamps for ever.
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As others have mentioned that really is a wonderful story and I would cherish that lamp forever..
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