I awoke this morning to a text from Patti, (one of my best friends) saying that someone had set her car on fire and it had spread to their house. This house is filled with people I love. It’s owned by my friend Todd and his husband Ben. They’re already stretched pretty thin as the city recently demanded they begin a costly (and almost impossible to get permitted because New Orleans bureaucracy) renovation on their front porch balcony. Patti, her husband Shawn, and her amazing kid Fae live there too, downstairs from Ben and Todd. The power is off for the foreseeable future, fridges are being run on an extension cord from a neighbor. Patti’s car is totaled, her mattress is ruined from the fire hoses, plenty of smoke and fire damage to the front of the house and the scaffolding which will all need repair, and we have a cold snap coming through right now so hotels and food will likely be necessary for awhile. From what I’m seeing on social media and local news outlets, some firebug went around the Bywater committing arson in the wee hours of this morning. At least 8 cars got hit. I’m trying to help my friends get access to what they need to rebuild what they’ve lost. If you’re able to donate or share this post, that would be excellent.

Rx, Dusty