Matthew and I left TN on a Friday morning, which put
us in La. Friday night. This was my first time coming
into the parish at night since Katrina. Coming over
the Parish Rd. Bridge you could see the lights of New
Orleans and of St. Bernard, but there was an obvious
difference. The amount of lights. There were so few
compared to before. The outline of New Orleans was
different because of it. And coming into St. Bernard,
the oil refinery lights were dominant. Before, they
merely blended into the many lights of the businesses,
streetlights and homes of the parish. There was still
a smell to the parish, but nothing like it was the
last time we were down there.

Saturday morning we left for Baton Rouge for MomÆs
party. It was wonderful!! Lots of people and lots of
food, but most importantly, they actually got her
there without her knowing about it. To say she was
surprised would be the biggest understatement I could
make. My son-in-law brought his computer. Folks were
asked to bring in old photos since so many lost theirs
in the hurricane. Josh scanned them and made copies
for those there. It was wonderful seeing so much of
the family and the friends that were able to make it.

For those of you who were able to make it...it was
truely wonderful to see each of you!!

For those of you who could not..we talked about
you...just kidding, but you WERE missed.

We spent Saturday night in Prairieville with Mom and
Dad and Sunday night in Gretna with Bev and Jose. It
wasnÆt until Monday that we went back into St.
Bernardàin the daylight so we could see the changes.

Even thou I had been there before, (but not since
November) this was MatthewÆs first trip into St.
Bernard. (The times before that we were down, he had
an unhealed wound from surgery and I would not bring
him down for fear of infection.)

Mom and DadÆs yard looks niceà.however, the old
trailer is gone. The pecan tree, pear tree, and a few
other fruit trees have been removed. The little pond
they had set up in the back yard was in parts to be
taken to Prairieville. The fence around the front
yard had been removed, as were the front hedges, to
put BevÆs FEMA trailer in the front yard. Mom and
Dads FEMA trailer is to the right of the driveway.
The outside of the house looks normal. The inside
looks a bit different. There are no walls. The
ceiling is still up and so are the upper kitchen
cabinets. ThatÆs about it. No inside doors,
flooring, or anything else. It truly broke my heart
to see our house that way.

I can remember when that house was built. We lived in
a small trailer further back on the same property. I
never thought I would see our home looking like this.

We drove around the parish a bit. The Chalmette
Monument looks the same. I love those old oak trees
and was grateful that they are still standing. We
drove through the cemetery thereàMatthew wanted to see
it (theyÆve talked about it in history class). We
went to Daisy MaeÆs house. The grass in the front
yard was about three feet tall. The front door is
still open, but some of it has now been cleaned. The
carport, the hallway, the livingroom. Some rooms have
not yet been touched. Like last time, I wrote my name
on the wall by the front door with the date.

We went to Uncle CharlieÆs house. It has been gutted.
Even with the windows and doors open or missing, the
smell is still in the house. We found a plaque
outside near the sidewalk with Uncle CharlieÆs name on
it. While we were there a neighbor came over. She is
one of two families that plan on moving back to the
neighborhood. She asked about Uncle Charlie and Aunt
Marie. She has not had any way of getting in touch
with them since the hurricane and did not know that
Aunt Marie died this summer. She desperately wants to
return home, but as she pointed out and is so very
obvious, there were only two FEMA trailers in that
entire neighborhood. How can just two families
return? What will happen to the rest of the
properties? Will they be able to return home? So
many unanswered questions.

Some areas like Farmsite Rd. and Green Ave. had FEMA
trailers everywhere. People living there while they
are rebuilding their homes. Then you had areas where
there were no trailers, homes untouched since the
storm, where it didnÆt seem like anyone would be
returning anytime soon.

Even on Farmsite there are drastic changes. Two
houses across the street from Mom and DadÆs house have
been bulldozed. The pool in another yard has yet to
be drained since the hurricane. It is full of
fishàand who knows what else. The owners are afraid
to empty it for fear of what is in it.

Every home is a unique story. Some people have dealt
with everything and are going about their new lives.
Others are still on an emotional roller coaster. My
folks were gong to fix up the house, but they have
since decided to sell ità.and they have since decided,
maybe, maybe not. It will be difficult to keep up
both the old house and the new one, but how do you
give up a lifetime? It is a decision that I do not
think they are ready to make.

Yesterday Matthew and I went to Walmart here in TN. I
was wearing an LSU shirt and the lady coming out of
the store said, ôgo tigersö. It surprised me because
she was, literally, over 80 years old. Of course we
stopped and talked for a few minutes. She was from
New Orleans, but is now living here since Katrina.
She wants to go back home, but cannot return to the
New Orleans we have now. She still has nieces and
nephews she has not heard from since Katrina. She
does not know if they are alive or not. Tears welded
up in her eyes and mine, but we both spoke of the
blessings we have had from God.

I cannot imagine how many people still do not know if
friends and loved ones are someplace safe, or washed
out into the gulf. A bold reminder to me to be
grateful that we did not lose any of the many members
of our family because of that horrific storm.

There is progress in St. Bernard Parish. There is so
much undone in St. Bernard Parish.

Two schools are now open. The week we left a grocery
store was supposed to be opening. The first in the
parish. They have one Dollar General Store and a few
gas stations. Several mom and pop places that have
been selling groceries and/or sandwiches. They have a
drug store in the parish now, but still no hospital or
911 services. A clinic had recently opened for minor
emergencies. Some areas have power and water, some
donÆt. Pump trucks run, literally, 24 hours a day,
seven days a week because there is no sewer
serviceàand they donÆt expect to have it for another 4
years. Wal-Mart said they would come backà.in 3-5
yearsàdepending on population.

And yet, life goes on. It has to. Not so easy for
some and easier for others, but none the less, it must
go forward.