It's the Little Things

Like Rita, I arrived with a bang -- all vinegar and spice with a huge urge to help. Time to get things DONE. But almost imperceptably my attitude has changed. Haven't slowed down, just taking time to meet and talk to the townies. Give them a chance to tell their story. Rita may have knocked these folks down but she didn't knock them out. Signs are everywhere - the happy face painted on a blueroof visible to traffic passing town on the Interstate. Likewise the "God bless America" painted prominently on an untarped roof. That sign will probably still be there in 10 years. But the best was the dirty American flag standing at a jaunty angle alone in the wasteland of what was the middle of Cameron, Louisiana.

These people are down. But they are an independent, I can take care of myself, people. They are most grateful for our help and are sincere and not too proud to show their appreciation. But make no mistake, very soon they will tire of our vehicles, our brightly colored "disaster responder" shirts and wish us gone. And with a, "Thank you so much for all your help, but I think we can take it from here", the "disaster" will be over.