Most everybody who can has been a volunteer somewhere in town for some period of time. Like everybody else, we collected donations immediately after.

Since the hurricane, there is a new 'normal' in Baton Rouge. We have become Louisiana's largest city. We went from 350,000 to 600,000 in a few days. There is gridlock at many intersections as New Orleans people struggle in a new city. There have been rumors of increased crime, desperate people wandering the streets.

Initially, we wanted to make sure that, if the storm continued on a path toward New Orleans and the smart thing was to evacuate, my 80-something-year-old aunt knew she could come to Baton Rouge. These evacuations are necessary every few years, and, in fact, my aunt came to Baton Rouge last September during a storm that came near New Orleans.

She can take care of herself, and was in no danger. We often don't hear from her for a week or two anyways.

transient, adj.

In school, the year was the marker. Fifth grade. Senior year of high school. Sophomore year of college. Then after, the jobs were the marker. That office, this desk. But now that school is over and I've been working at the same desk for longer than I can truly believe, I realize: You have become the marker. This is your era. And it's only if it goes on and on that I will have to look for other ways to identify the time.

We believe Mr. Campbell is simply ready to take some time out to smell the roses before accepting any new challenges.