Hurricane evacuation--report from the road

Taking two-lane highways the very long way around, it took us six hours to make what would normally be about a two-and-a half-hour trip to Bunkie, a small town in central Louisiana. We were very lucky to get a room in an old historically preserved hotel, where we have a lovely view of the courtyard. Our cats, Roxie and Velma, still recovering from evacuation stress, have taken turns sitting on the window ledge and watching the banana leaves flutter in the wind. When they aren't perching or sleeping, they are hissing, growling, and swatting each other. All in all, though, they have adapted amazingly well.

It took us longer to pack for them than it did to pack for ourselves. Our small hotel room is crowded with a litter box, food and water bowls, cat bed, two pet carriers, and computer equipment. We also have catnip, a toy mouse, some Rescue Remedy, towels, and a ZoomGroom on hand. I am able to watch the U.S. Open on the USA Network, so really, I have everything I need.

We passed miles of cotton fields to get here, and drove through small towns whose shops displayed signs like Perfection Brake & Clutch and Virtuous Woman Fitness & Tanning. Is some areas of Mississippi, there was a lot of kudzu, which protects the land from erosion. We watched a Weather Channel reporter stand on the flooded, windy streets of our city, and we were glad that we were not there.