A Modern Day Pompeii
September 15, 2005

Many years ago I visited Pompeii, Italy, where Mt. Vesuvius erupted on August 23, 79 AD; it wiped out a region and created “the forgotten city”. Inhabitants perished as  powerful surges of steaming gas and ash burned and suffocated their lungs. The ash buried the bodies, and the particles fused in a natural weathering process. As the corpses decayed, they left spooky shaped voids in the ash. It took 1500 years for archaeologists to find the forgotten city and learn about the fate of the citizens of Pompeii.

Almost to the day, one thousand nine hundred and twenty six years later, another city and region was wiped out by powerful surges of hurricane water that burned and suffocated their lungs and buried people in watery graves. As the bodies decayed, they bloated and floated along spooky main streets. It took the modern equivalent of 1500 years for authorities to find this forgotten city and learn about the fate of the citizens of New Orleans.

What is striking about Pompeii is how perfectly a moment in time is preserved- the decayed bodies, now reconstructed in plaster of Paris, pose in a montage of daily life. It’s a freeze frame that tells us so much about them: water was scare and hauled often, couch-like banquettes encouraged intensive socializing over meals, and in the kitchen, pots on a stone counter still sit today, inviting visitors to peek at what’s for dinner. The people of Pompeii knew trouble was coming that day, and they died performing their daily rituals.

The hurricane victims of the south were like-minded. They knew danger was brewing, but they stuck to their rhythms, not quite believing that a storm could possibly wreak such havoc. In the aftermath of disaster, survivors who still had the remnants of a home maintained ritual. Neighbors in the French Quarter banded together to haul water from stores, they socialized intensely, and gave each other spritz baths of bleach, water and comfort. They grilled decaying food, and served every meal with warm white wine and a toast.

Human rituals are vital to survival, they keep us sane and focused; while strong enough for disasters, they are even more powerful when we control our own fate. We cannot reverse the tragic misfortunes of our southern neighbors, but we can honor their struggles by truly appreciating the history of our own good fortune. Taking a moment to savor the importance of our own kitchen rituals when preparing food; feasting on a chunk of gratitude for the dry, safe kitchen, running water, and humming refrigerator; sharing an extra scoop of affection for the family members who are present for the meal.

Kim Dannies is a graduate of La Varenne Cooking School in France. She lives in Williston, VT with her husband, Jeff, and three college–aged daughters who come and go. ©2008