I have put so much time into blogging about my hometown of Pascagoula and all the other coastal cities affected by the wrath of Katrina that I was becoming obsessive. I have achieved what I set out to do and that was to let, at least, some of the generous people all over the United States see through the efforts of an amateur photographer undoctored pics of the destruction that happened in an area that is home to me.

My personality does not permit me to sit back and say with resignation that there is nothing I can do. Whether it be a right or wrong decision, I will make one. The situation we find ourselves in at the present time will eventually come to an end because of volunteers and locals that have tackled not only enormous rebuilding jobs and debri cleanups but also the mundane chores. All the high school and college students that have come to lend a helping hand have accomplished so much. Thank you for not saying there was nothing for you to do.

From time to time, knowing me, I will write about the happenings here. In the meantime, I am sprucing up my little corner of the state.

You would think that with all we have to contend with in our hurricane damaged area that vandalism should not be an issue but it is. I have two posts with lights at the end of the drive and Tuesday morning I awoke to find that I now have one. The police officer that came to the house said it was most likely vandals but after I told him other things that have been happening, a patrol of the area was ordered.

I also called Red River Services, as they pick up garbage on Tuesday's, to report the damage. Modern garbage is picked up by trucks that use a claw like device that grabs the container and does a wide "swing" to empty the contents in the truck. I was told I would be called back but I am still waiting.

Why does it seem that there is always several things that could have happened thus making it harder to solve the problem. But.... last evening at 8PM I heard a slight commotion at the front of the house. I opened the front door and I saw several people out in the street run for cover. Later I opened the side door and saw them run and hide. They were not little kids, they looked to be in the 13 to 15 age group. They were at the end of my drive. This morning when I awoke the other post light was still there but for how long? Maybe the officer apprehended them. Tougher penalties should be put on vandalism to curtail the damage they do in the name of fun and the attitude that their age will exempt them from punishment.

I have been waiting for the return of the squirrels to my backyard .....or to anyone's backyard. Fierce hurricanes seem to diminish their population and yesterday, almost seven months to the day that Katrina smashed into us, four of the frisky little creatures arrived in my yard. I was only able to capture a pic of two of them as they startle easily. I took the pic through the backporch screen.


This morning I decided to go to my daughter's for a good cup of coffee. The two boys would be in school and the little girls are what I call "sweet" company. I started snapping pics when I saw what Yvonne was engrossed in.

The Incredibles?

Baby Emily was very patient with me as I tried to get the perfect pic but after a zillion shots her expression shows utter confusion. Not exactly what i was hoping to capture but "Ain't she cute"?


And then there is Judge .... who is a character. I love animals and I speak to them as if they are human. Even stray dogs get the same attention from me. My talking to Judge so much had him coming close to speaking with me today.


Okay... now I am feeling pretty good again. A reprieve from all the heavy depressing writing about the storm made me regress to the simple things that never fail to lighten the sometimes heavy burdens in life. Look back in your life and you will find as I have that it is the simple pleasures that you remember. Your childhood Christmas' that stand out in your memory as better than the ones we gave to our children. Why do we remember it that way? Because of its simplicity.

Squirrels, backporch, Yvonne, Emily, Judge and a good cup of coffee today will make a lasting memory of Nana (Me) for my daughter to tell her daughters in another tomorrow.

Growing Weary

I have been blogging about Katrina since November and have even gone so far as to create virtual tours to show how life has changed not only in my hometown but in all the coastal cities. This morning I realized that while I have been tirelessly "reporting" all these things that I have again been neglecting myself.

I am one of those people that no matter how much I am slighted or what may happen to me I stifle my emotions and thus a normal reaction to bad situations usually never comes to the surface. I internalize. Because of the losses that people suffered from the hurricane, I felt that somehow I would demean their circumstances if I talked about my needs.

My needs do not stem from the hurricane. They began over six years ago when I lost my husband. He was pronounced cured in 1995 from Non Hodgkins Lymphoma after a four year battle fighting the disease. We went back to work at the office and by all appearances everything seemed normal. But you see it wasn't for me. I had to be his support and remain staunch to not show fear that the cancer would return. True, non hodgkins did not return but in September 1999 a massive inoperable brain tumor did. He died in December 1999. If I had followed my own emotions I would have cried and cried but for another I stayed seemingly calm and capable.

As I looked back on what I wrote, I saw a clear pattern of what I have been doing for most of my life. I have been more concerned with other's lives than my own. Not saying that it is wrong to care but sometimes it has been to my detriment. This morning I realized that I don't want to talk about Katrina anymore. I have again been fretting over the problems of all the people that have been hurt by this storm and overlooking my needs. If I continue writing, the subject will be more uplifting and reflect who I am. MY life!

Although in the last 7 months my life has become more difficult, there is also much that I enjoy ....... with the exception of cleaning raingutters. Someone jokingly said to me that after retirement all the aggravating things were lessened and he relaxes and watches the grass grow. Strangely .... to jump on my riding lawnmower is one of my pleasures!

I have four daughters and 12 grandchildren so choosing a new subject won't be difficult.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Longfellow house, oldest Pascagoula beach-front home, up for sale

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Longfellow house, oldest Pascagoula beach-front home, up for sale: The city of Pascagoula's oldest beachfront house is being put up for sale by the University of Mississippi Foundation. The Longfellow House is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina."


I am so sad about this that I will only say a few words. The Longfellow House has withstood many hurricanes in its long history and recently stood strong against the disastrous Katrina. We have lost so much of our southern history "up and down" the coast that to lose another is incomprehensible.

The Sun Herald | 03/24/2006 | Tsunami survivors coming

The Sun Herald | 03/24/2006 | Tsunami survivors coming: "'These nine from Indonesia will have a better level of what's happened here than volunteers who come from New England or elsewhere in the U.S. who haven't experienced the same level of magnitude, even though they may not speak the same language or have the same cultural background,' said Kathryn Renton, manager of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Volunteer Village in D'Iberville."

I think this is great. Maybe now we will get some concrete answers on what happened in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

Okay all you visual spectators out there I am going to take you on another tour. This time down South Pascagoula Street. Many of you have your own memories of So Pascagoula as I do. Upscale in its day. Many lovely older homes dotted the landscape. Majestic oak trees lined both sides of the street. Upon my return to Pascagoula three years ago I came very close to buying a home there. It was still pretty. Today, things have changed.

Many of the oak trees have survived and once again they will add beauty to the homes of future generations.

Try to overlook the blurred pics and the ones that have sunspots in them. Just see So. Pascagoula and visualize what it use to be.

We will be traveling south headed toward the beach.

Well.... what are you thinking? Not very pretty is it? We have lost so much that it is going to take years before beauty returns. Everything that wasn't completely destroyed looks worn. Even the newer homes in the area seem to have aged.

It seems the municipalities along the coast are coming along nicely. The banks are thriving as the people have deposited what money they managed to get from insurance and Fema in their institutions. Several casinos are operating again. But what about the people?

The above picture is like so many destroyed homes on the coast. We all have in common, steps that lead to nowhere.

Hope For Recovery Dwindles

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Katrina Home Grant Application Process Starts Mid-April: "Barbour said about 29,000 homeowners could qualify for the federal grants of up to $150,000 each. That's down from a previous estimate of 35,000 who could qualify."

Since I am out scouting around quite often taking pics of damaged houses, the above comment from Governor Barbour disturbs me. The figure of 29,000 for those who can "possibly" or "could" get assistance is too low. The Pascagoula/Moss Point area alone has that many people needing assistance. What about Gautier/Ocean Springs? Biloxi/Gulfport? Long Beach/Pass Christian? Bay St. Louis/Waveland? Do you think 29,000 grants will help all these people? I don't. So many are going to "fall through the cracks".

As usual I am going to post some pics that can become mundane to you but what I am depicting is the way of life here for many, many people.

Although Senator Trent Lott's house once faced the beach, I snapped the pic on Hague Street that runs alongside his property. All that is left are oak trees. I chose the most beautiful. Notice the adjoining neighbors on the beach that now reside in trailers.


The street that dead ends at the rear of the senator's property is Washington Avenue. Maybe you have asked yourself why I do all the blogging and picture taking. I consider the coast in its entirety my home. Pascagoula is "special" because I was born here. Also the news media can be biased calling us bigots and discriminators. Recently, they have been reporting every issue that has occurred in Mississippi. Be it last week or 45 yrs. ago. I find their remarks somehow detract from our present condition. Because of their attitude toward us, I want you, the american people, to know what has happened to our state.

Washington Avenue

The above gutted house is not the same one that I am going to post below. My focus was on the advertisment in the person's front yard. There are various signs all through the residential sections. I admired the house below, it was very well kept and in a scenic area. The black wrought iron fence added the "charm".

Washington Avenue

After visiting the above area, I decided to drive to Moss Point and there I took two pics. One is an unusual house under construction. Can't wait to see it completed!

Moss Point

The next pic was interesting because of the transparent tent in the front yard. I remembered when trailer parks were few in number and tents were used for camping. Life, as we knew it, did change in a blink of an eye.

Moss Point

It had been a long day so I headed home and later when looking at what had been captured on the camera I found a pic that I have no recollection of. "A picture that paints a thousand words."

Hope Arises From Rubble

Today is a typical spring day down South with azure skies, azaleas blooming and a cool March breeze. A setting that makes me want to clean, clean, clean! This morning even the raingutters on the house didn't escape my notice as they have been overflowing when it rains. It was a pretty simple but dirty job. Most importantly, I didn't fall from the ladder.

Later in the afternoon I went for my usual drive. The water in the Mississippi Sound was a bit choppy but was a perfect backdrop for the gorgeous day.


Beach Boulevard is where I begin my sightseeing to note if there has been any progress. There are still homes that weren't demolished because I think they were declared structurally sound and can be saved. The house below faces the beach.


There was a buzz of activity on Washington Avenue today, more than I have seen in these last months. Amidst the rubble new homes are rising at higher elevations. What could be a better time than the season of spring to see new beginnings.




The next picture was taken west of So. Pascagoula Street, one block from beach.


Sorry I didn't have more to show you but I think the people are coming back. They have had almost 7 months to discuss options and now it is time to rebuild their lives. Fear of what may happen can not guide any of our lives or we would beome too frightened to live in the present. I have been known to say in any tragedy that I encountered in my own life (and there have been a few) "Cry some, dust yourself off and journey on."

It's Raining Trailers In Pascagoula

I took some pictures today to show you the trailers in our area. I do a terrible job trying to take pictures and drive at the same time. I have pretty good shots of the interior of the car, don't I? So bear with me please. Many of you will know the areas mentioned. There is Cherokee off Ingalls Avenue, Washington Avenue, a block from the beach and the Lake Avenue area.

Sometimes I feel so alone driving the routes I take as there are very few cars on the road. No scenic beauty anymore. I can almost touch the heartache that fills the air and the silence is deafening. Like a one man cheering squad I make my rounds through their neighborhoods thinking that maybe somehow they know someone really cares that they have to live this way.

Cherokee

Cherokee

Cherokee

Washington Avenue was very upscale, many physicians and attorneys made their homes there. The homes from the beach washed into the homes on Washington and totally obliterated them, adding insult to injury. Many of the homes have now been bulldozed and what was once beautiful is now a desert.

Washington Avenue

Washington Avenue

Washington Avenue

Washington Avenue

As if I hadn't seen enough, I decided to ride through Lake Avenue. It wasn't too bad but remember I have been living in this awhile now and a person can somehow get used to it. It happens. There are only a few pics so I decided to put a house that you might find interesting knowing it is over six months since the storm.

Lake Avenue

Lake Avenue

Lake Avenue

There wasn't much to see in these pics except trailers but try to imagine what it would be like living this way after once having beautiful things. It is true that it can all disappear when you least expect it, Mississippi sure didn't.

With all the complaints about the news being focused on New Orleans I am afraid that people may think that Mississippi doesn't care. Many of you have now been to both states and have seen the devastation inflicted on all of us by hurricane Katrina and can sense the stress we are under.

For the years I have lived in Mississippi, New Orleans has been our friend. When Camille struck in 1969, N.O. was one of the first to rush to our aide. The parishes surrounding N.O. all had extensive damage inflicted by hurricane Katrina as did Slidell, Louisiana, a small community bordering the state of Mississippi.

When hurricane Rita made landfall September 24, 2005 along the Texas/Louisiana border, Beaumont and Port Arthur were heavily damaged as was Holly Springs and Cameron in Louisiana. I and family evacuated to Atlanta, Georgia as our emotions were so affected by Katrina that we fled the possible wrath of yet another hurricane.

I can only speak for myself on how all this devastation has changed my life. At present I can't say that it has made my life better or happier. I am more fearful, have trouble concentrating or speaking. The war in Iraq weighs heavily on my mind. There can be no lasting peace for any of us until the fighting stops. "Those who live by the sword, shall perish by the sword."

New Orleans I wish you and all of Louisiana godspeed in your recovery and to the border communities in Texas, may your recovery be swift.

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: America's Tour Operators Clean Coast Attractions

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: America's Tour Operators Clean Coast Attractions: "Tourism Cares for America also cleaned the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Beauvoir, the Maritime and Seafood Museum, the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum, Ship Island, the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center, D'Iberville and Pass Christian.


I am so proud of all the good people in America. In fact, I am totally overwhelmed. There are so many that actually have contributed manually to our recovery. No job is too big or too menial, they tackle them all. God Bless You!

Although I live in Jackson County, I consider Harrison and Hancock County my home also. There has always been a a close kinship between the cities. I have memories of each city on the coast. The fun times in Biloxi, a home in Gulfport for 19 yrs. and a business there for 35 yrs. An old fashioned ice cream parlor in Ocean Springs. The picturesque Pass Christian Harbor. And how can I forget the antique shops in Bay St. Louis.

The pictures below are of damage in each city mentioned.

Biloxi Point Cadet Area

Gulfport Second Street

Ocean Springs Home

Pass Christian Scenic Drive

Bay St. Louis Home