It's obvious how traumatic this loss must have been, because Dick doesn't offer a single word about the condition of his home or of any other possessions (besides that banjo).

I've never experienced such a loss, but for a while in late 2005 I was in suspense, not knowing whether my irepaceable one-and-only guitar was OK after I had left it home when evacuating for Hurricane Katrina.

I was fairly confident that the floodwaters would not have risen as high as the top of a bed on the second floor ~ and in the end, the guitar had indeed survived. But for the long month-and-a-half during which we were unable to return home to survey the damage, there was still an element of doubt and I was worried sick.

Dick, you have my sincerest sysmpathy.