In the spring of 2010, my email box was inundated with writers looking for the softer side of the story of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and following oil spill disaster. These seekers of a different angle flocked to my bayou to interview my shrimping neighbors. As a wetland advocate, I wondered how I could use this man-made disaster as a platform to further the cause of education and awareness.
It became clear to me early on that most of the journalists who arrived at my door really had no clue about our culture and way of life. So, if they wanted a story about how the oil spill had impacted us, then they must humor me and allow me to educate them about this vanishing ecosystem and its people.
What these well-meaning journalists needed first was a foundational perspective from the standpoint of a population of coastal communities who were suffering yet one more blow to their way of life. As a woman who lives, works, and fishes here, I could give them that perspective, which was simply this:
This oil spill was not an isolated disaster for the people of coastal Louisiana. It was like being kicked when we were already down. And here’s why.
We have all seen these spiders in Louisiana but recently on my trip to Maui I found out a bit more of them. This is one of the few spiders you will see on Maui. A guide told me that this spider tears up tiny bits of leaves and put them in the web so that birds are confused as to which one is the spider. If you look at the web, the spider looks just like the torn up bits of leaves. I had always called them crab spiders but don’t know what the “legal”name is.
Wow Kim! Great information! I had always heard them called crab spiders down here, but I thought that might just be a local name, because they really do look like crabs.
Its a spiny spider
Ok, Mr. Spider Guy, where’s the link where I can go read more about it?
Maybe I’m looking at it wrong – it looks like an alien spaceship to me.
It really is a weird looking spider
I can’t even look, I have a HUGE spider phobia.
Well, seems like I read about that somewhere on your blog! Good thing you don’t look–it’s really CREEPY! Finished the book–STEAMY MYSTERY!
Phil – His name is Phil.
You are hilarious, Emilie!
http://frank.itlab.us/spiny_spider/pictures.html
Everyone’s right! Except for Jill cause she won’t look.
That’s a great site! Thanks!
I just have to say that you take the most gorgeous pictures! Have you included photos in any of your books. You should consider doing a book with nothing but photography from the swamps and bayous (if you haven’t already).
No, I haven’t already. I hope to use them here to help people know more about who we are, Carol. I hope one day to have a couple dozen worthy of print and I want to display them at the library and sell them with all proceeds going to wetland restoration. Thank you so much for the compliments! That is very encouraging toward my goal!
You should do a photography exhibit at the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum and make a bilingual picture book for children.
I hear you, Monsieur Rocky! You are nudging me in that direction! Let’s talk soon, ok?!