Today....

Yesterday we a meeting giving each group the opportunity to introduce themselves to others. It's amazing how similar our companies are. The group gets along amazingly. No complaints from anyone of the 27 living together. We are all very respectful of each other yet you would think we all knew each other for a long time. The jokes keep rolling. Steve's driving, Emily's directions, blazing a new trail, the zoo - everyone is so comfortable with each other. And yes, don't forget those one way roads!! We went to the French Quarter and walked the streets for a while. Went to the Bijou and learned what they are trying to accomplish there. Greta gave us a tour of the lower 9 and upper New Orleans. She brought us to her house which she is currently restoring and told us about her memorial garden she is planting at her grandfather's home site. We learned so much history during these visits and have so many questions as to why...why this is allowed to happen here in the United States.

The devastation here is unbelievable. It makes your heart stop. It's a shame how this country has allowed this to continue. People are homeless, hungry and unemployed. Animals are undernourished as they have no food . Homes that were destroyed still stand. An "X" on a home is defined as such: the top of the "X" is the date they came to the house after Katrina, the right in the "X" is how many animals were found - dead, the left side of the "X" states the group that look into the house and the bottom of the "X" is how many humans were found - dead. The newspapers showed the world that during Katrina the people who had crawled to the roof through the whole in the roof they made to escape the rush and depth of the water. Those homes still stand, the roof with the whole still there - the residents, although very few, tell us the story of the houses that stand and how their owners died. Some people were never found. There is just this terrible sense of devastation. We met "Roy" a happy man as he just moved back into his house three months ago after Lower9.org came in and rebuilt his home. How proud he was although he said the color took some getting used to. Roy didn't mind being photographed and talked up a storm to us about what happened to him on the day the Levy's gave out. He was so grateful to us. He shook everyone's hand - thanking us over and over again. He boasted on how he tries to give back by letting Lower9.org use his shed or his home. Amidst all of this, he smiled brilliantly and with pride that we were here to help New Orleans.

Jennifer passed around a cardboard chart on Sunday morning. Here we signed up for our house duties which we all share. But our real work begins today. This morning we all boarded the vans and headed to our destination of rebuilding a home or working on the farm. I chose working on the home. We met Linda and her husband who spoke to us about themselves and why they were chosen to have their home rebuilt. They were first responders. After introductions, we were given our assignments by Jay - the site manager. The sweat poured off of us. Sub Floors, laying wooden floors, framing windows, painting and caulking - It was amazing how we all worked together as teams. The laughter continues and the friendships build. The work is hard work but ever so rewarding.

At 4:30 we have to end our day and get out of that area because it is unsafe. Crack houses a few houses up. People strolling the streets that can't be trusted. Animals with no homes. You can't ever be alone. I can't believe this is the United States.

Again, the dinner was fantastic. Healthy, organic, and vegan friendly. Emily serenaded some of us. Her voice and guitar playing is breathtaking. She has so many beautiful songs to share. Did a Dylan song "It's all right babe", sent you back in time. For now...

Joanne