Saturday, July 08, 2006
Meet Mez Merai
My friend Mez Merai snapped this photo after the Industrial Canal in New Orleans split open during Katrina. The barge at left literally broke through the barrier protecting the Lower 9th Ward, causing the entire neighborhod and all areas due south (Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish) to be completely destroyed. The barge ended up next to the school bus. When I visited New Orleans in April, Mez took me to the Lower 9th Ward. He excitedly said, "Let's go see the barge." As it turned out the barge was gone, but the bus was still there. Mez used to write and shoot photos for High Times in the '70s and '80s. My story about New Orleans will appear in the November issue of High Times.
