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I hit a racoon on the way home from work last night. It was dusk and my stomach told me that I was going hit something. Ferrous and I took a sharp turn and Rocky booked it towards us. Before I had time to react, I felt the gagunk gagunk of my tires rolling over the little guy. I gasped; my hand flew to my mouth. Guess who feels like a jerk? I'll give you a hint- it isn't Rocky.
Last week I was in Biloxi, MS for the 3rd year. Every time I leave, my heart aches. Despite the state's reputation of racism and deep south troubles, there is something endearing about the state. The people of Mississippi are sweet and, even still, supportive of each other and such inspirations of how to come together as a community. In these last 3 years I have only been able to find one flaw: the idea that women cannot do anything. One man told me that it isn't that they think we can't do physical things. It's that they would rather us not. "We just want you to make sure we have enough sweet tea." I kid you not. Direct quote.
The kids this year were so fantastic! The ones that returned from last year have matured so much. It was a pleasure to work alongside of them.
We worked with two men; Warran and Skip. Both, in my estimates, were in their 60's.
Warren was rebuilding a house for his daughter who, after two years, has finally decided to return to the area. The yard that is not used for the house is being used as a county storage facility for extra lumber, cinder block and other building materials. Our group did a lot of hauling dirt and loading/unloading cinder block.
Skip is my new hero. What an amazing guy. His life in brief:
* Vietnam veteran (which instantly makes me love him, as I have had a soft spot for these vets in particular for quite some time)
* After his military service, he worked for the railroads. At one point he was the conductor of the Poo Poo Choo Choo (a train that hauled waste around the country, trying to find a home for it).
*He worked on the rails for 30 years before injuring his back. He was forced to stop working. Not knowing what to do next, he looked online for cheap flights, saw he had a time share for Thailand and decided that would be his next home. Skip lived in Thailand for 3 years and owned a Cajun restaurant.
*At some point the communist government took over the city his restaurant was in. Fearing their reaction to his presence (Americans frowned upon), he gave the Buddhist monks $5 and asked them to drive him in his truck to the airport.
* While he was over there, he hopped over to Vietnam and revisited sites he fought in. He snuck into what was once North Vietnam and snapped some shots of POW camps.
* He returned to the US shortly before Katrina hit. After the storm, he moved around the Gulf Coast assisting with Katrina relief.
* He was constable of LA.
* He was body guard for Whoopi Goldberg.
* He was body guard for Sandra Bullock.
* A bit over a year after Katrina, he came back to Pass Christian and started work on his house.
* At any given time Skip works on 5 houses. His own plus 4.
* He received $9000 from insurance and has built his home completely off of volunteer help. It is 90% finished.
We filled in his bulk head, relocated his mailbox, & did some yard work for Skip. He also had part of our group working on stapling screen on the underside of a home elevated 15-20 feet. The screen held the insulation in until the home owner got enough money to purchase the particle board that should be there. She is out of money.
Skip
Skip's dog, Buddy.
Bobbo, the first. And Bobbo #2.
George found a hermit crab the size of Texas.
A house boat load of pictures here.
I hit a racoon on the way home from work last night. It was dusk and my stomach told me that I was going hit something. Ferrous and I took a sharp turn and Rocky booked it towards us. Before I had time to react, I felt the gagunk gagunk of my tires rolling over the little guy. I gasped; my hand flew to my mouth. Guess who feels like a jerk? I'll give you a hint- it isn't Rocky.
Last week I was in Biloxi, MS for the 3rd year. Every time I leave, my heart aches. Despite the state's reputation of racism and deep south troubles, there is something endearing about the state. The people of Mississippi are sweet and, even still, supportive of each other and such inspirations of how to come together as a community. In these last 3 years I have only been able to find one flaw: the idea that women cannot do anything. One man told me that it isn't that they think we can't do physical things. It's that they would rather us not. "We just want you to make sure we have enough sweet tea." I kid you not. Direct quote.
The kids this year were so fantastic! The ones that returned from last year have matured so much. It was a pleasure to work alongside of them.
We worked with two men; Warran and Skip. Both, in my estimates, were in their 60's.
Warren was rebuilding a house for his daughter who, after two years, has finally decided to return to the area. The yard that is not used for the house is being used as a county storage facility for extra lumber, cinder block and other building materials. Our group did a lot of hauling dirt and loading/unloading cinder block.
Skip is my new hero. What an amazing guy. His life in brief:
* Vietnam veteran (which instantly makes me love him, as I have had a soft spot for these vets in particular for quite some time)
* After his military service, he worked for the railroads. At one point he was the conductor of the Poo Poo Choo Choo (a train that hauled waste around the country, trying to find a home for it).
*He worked on the rails for 30 years before injuring his back. He was forced to stop working. Not knowing what to do next, he looked online for cheap flights, saw he had a time share for Thailand and decided that would be his next home. Skip lived in Thailand for 3 years and owned a Cajun restaurant.
*At some point the communist government took over the city his restaurant was in. Fearing their reaction to his presence (Americans frowned upon), he gave the Buddhist monks $5 and asked them to drive him in his truck to the airport.
* While he was over there, he hopped over to Vietnam and revisited sites he fought in. He snuck into what was once North Vietnam and snapped some shots of POW camps.
* He returned to the US shortly before Katrina hit. After the storm, he moved around the Gulf Coast assisting with Katrina relief.
* He was constable of LA.
* He was body guard for Whoopi Goldberg.
* He was body guard for Sandra Bullock.
* A bit over a year after Katrina, he came back to Pass Christian and started work on his house.
* At any given time Skip works on 5 houses. His own plus 4.
* He received $9000 from insurance and has built his home completely off of volunteer help. It is 90% finished.
We filled in his bulk head, relocated his mailbox, & did some yard work for Skip. He also had part of our group working on stapling screen on the underside of a home elevated 15-20 feet. The screen held the insulation in until the home owner got enough money to purchase the particle board that should be there. She is out of money.
Skip
Skip's dog, Buddy.
Bobbo, the first. And Bobbo #2.
George found a hermit crab the size of Texas.
A house boat load of pictures here.