In 1965, Hurricane Betsy slammed into New Orleans and left much of the area without electricity.
We couldn’t cook, have the lights on or run the air conditioner – and the air was pretty humid. All the neighbors had their windows open, trying to stay cool.
During the time the power was off, neighbors sat in their yards and visited with one another. People who seldom saw each other were getting acquainted, and new friendships were forged.
Schools were closed, so families were able to spend a lot of time together.
When the power was re-stored, the neighbors went back into their air-conditioned homes and returned to their cloistered lives.
However, I will always remember when necessity brought neighbors together.
Ruston, La.