What keeps us going, however, are some primary things the rest of what I call the NOLA blogpocheh have taught me very, very well: that sources must be quoted when necessary, that the rants have much more impact when based on fact, and that a network under the right sort of circumstances is a priceless thing. We have initially been bound together through disaster – but ultimately, we are building something that has the potential to last longer than the levees that were meant to protect us and the wetlands that are this state’s lifeblood and are of great significance to the rest of this country, whether they know it or not.

Our levees may still be leaky, our coast may look like Swiss cheese, and our leaders may have abdicated their many responsibilities and obligations to us – but we are learning that we can only overcome when we do it together – when we share, we vent, and/or we celebrate together.