NOLA 10 by Molly Howes

Something cold has seeped into my heart.

It feels like grief.

Salt water surprises me, rising sometimes slowly like a tide,

Sometimes suddenly,

surging to find an outlet in my tears.

We pounded and lugged and taped

and sanded and painted and loved

with our strength, with our biceps.

We laughed and sang.

Our boots were on the ground

and we made the house strong,

strong against another storm.

But, now, afterwards,

feeling runs through me like a river,

finding its path through my own history,

through my frustrated compassion,

through my fear for the future of those children,

through the canyon of immense need we cannot fill,

through respect for the gifts Ms. Bailey

brings to her family and to us.

This grief is the second part of the gift.

First we do.

Then we feel:

We soak in the sad, slow floodwaters of misfortune

too great for us really to comprehend.

We try to take it in.

We try to love them more because of this pain they share with us.

Will we make the right kind of sense of this grief?

These tears?

This disorientation and distractibility?

Will it lead us to a higher ground,

a place we can stand with the Baileys

and the other families we have come to know?

What they give us is this chance to feel and grow,

this liquid, churning question

of our place in their lives

and their place in ours.

We've done all we could do

Hello. Friday night is here. We are all tired and sore, but we got to the point of the project we wanted to achieve. We placed outer vapor barriers, placed insulation, inner vapor barrier, hung the walls and ceilings. We placed the tape, spread the mud, and sanded until we couldn't sand for another minute. Terry sprayed the primer on walls and ceilings. The kitchen cabinets and counter tops are in. Today, we were able to paint every interior wall, ceiling and floor. We painted the floor because we didn't have time to install any flooring, but the code requires a cleanable surface. The further away from Katrina, the more strict the building codes.

Individuals from our groups donated a stove, hood and dishwasher. We placed them, but couldn't install them.

The kids made two giant cookie cakes for us this afternoon. The whole family was excited and thrilled to see that they are so much closer to having their home back. The kids loved their room colors. Shawntae's room is lilac. Antonio and Christopher's room is as blue as the sky on a perfect day. Janice's room is bright, sunshine yellow.

Terry spent the last two days making friends with the chicken. He was frequently seen carrying her around and petting her. We joked that he came to New Orleans to get plastered and pick up chicks! We found a stash of about 2 dozen eggs hidden under Janice's house this afternoon. The kids are excited because they hope to be able to get fresh eggs. That chicken is going to miss us! She seemed to love being with us.

Alas - the work is done and we are feeling quite proud of the work we were able to accomplish. There were 25 of us in a single shotgun house and there were very few occasions where we were bumping into each other.

It is always sad to say goodbye to the homeowners, Quo Vadis and the Americorp Volunteers. It will be good to get home to our loved ones.

See you soon.

a few photos

Kitchen/dining/living space.




You have to LOVE Craig's reaction to getting her ceiling finished!

Happy Veterans Day

No NOLA post last night. After a day of inhaling dust created by a swarm of sanders, we went Jacques-Imo's for dinner and I got to go to Cafe DuMonde for beignet's! This is my 4th trip and my first visit to the cafe. It was quite an experience and the beignets were fantastic!

We sanded the walls and ceilings, then cleaned the dust and Terry sprayed a coat of primer to the walls and ceilings. Note: do not get in Terry's path when he is ready to spray something.

The carpenters kept busy installing kitchen cabinets. The home is starting to come together. A team even cleaned all her windows. Janice came over late in the day with hot apple cider. It was delicious.

We were also treated with a visit from Jyaphia (bearing a tasty gift). She is formerly the diva chef for our groups.

Today's mission: Don't get in Terry's way and paint as much as we can.

We will be shedding tears of joy and sadness (because we have to leave).

Who is here working

Who is here... Terry Combs, Darrah Bryans, David (Sparky) Hatton, Sally & Roger Demler, Nancy (birthday girl) Levy, Molly Howes, George Clattenburg, Don Keiser, Kate Landis, Craig Cohen, Jocelyn Francis, Kathy Copplestone, and me. We have Ann & Stan, Lori and Phoebe from Follen. From Bloomington Normal, IL we have Ken, Rosie (associate minister), John, Jack, Barbara, Betsy and Julie.

We also brought all our loved ones and church community members with us in our hearts.

The work progresses

Hello blog readers. We had a very busy day, again. When don't we when we are here? We are determined to get as much done as humanly possible.

It rained overnight and a little bit during the morning. Otherwise, it was quite cloudy and a lot cooler. Much better for working. We finished the last little bit of wall boards first thing and then everyone became a mudder for the day! We taped all the seams and spread mud in every nook and cranny. We broke for lunch and then went in for the 2nd coat. The house is really coming together.

At the end of the afternoon, there were many of us in the yard cleaning up debris. What a difference it made to the appearance of the house!

Antonio, Christopher and Shawntae came to work with us after school. They really gravitate to the men in our crew and the men have been taking them under their wings and showing them how to do very productive work. I am so impressed.

The ice cream truck arrived later than promised. He does a great business with the group!

There were a couple of local contractors putting the last 2 windows late in the day. Now the house can be secure. Onward and upward! Terry and George made a late run to Lowe's to buy cabinets and countertop. Janice will be so thrilled!

Molly got to visit with Ifama today (NOLA 4). She said that Ifama looks better. She gave Molly some sunflower sprouts for our salad tonight. A little love and sunshine with our meal tonight!

Today was Nancy's birthday and we had cake and ice cream after dinner. Big fun!

We are still anxious and raring to go, but we might not be as spry as we were on Monday.

Please keep our aching muscles and sort feet in your prayers!

Rainy morning...send us some sunshine!

I have been slacking with the camera duties. There is so much to do that I would feel guilty talking pictures instead of sanding.

It's raining this morning. We are hopeful that it will pass on by. There is a cold front moving in. It will be as cool here as it is warm at home. Actually, at 60 degrees, they break out the winter coats.

Antonio, Christopher and Shawntea will be with us all da...y. Their grandmother thinks it is important for them to be a part of the rebuilding of their home. Shawntea is excited about being able to pick the paint color for her room (light purple). The boys want to learn how to use the tools and really gravitate to the men. Their dad (Janice's son) was killed in a car accident. Today, they will be "home schooled." I am excited to hear their stories. They must have told all their friends on Monday and Tuesday about the work they did on Sunday and will do today.

I will try to take more photos. There will be plenty to share when we get back, and everyone organizes their photos.

More ice cream

Phoebe (from Follen Church) and Jocelyn have a date with Ben & Jerry tonight.

Ice cream!

Hello readers. It was another very full house today, but it is surprising that we are not climbing over each other as we have in the past. Each room has been buzzing with activity. Some were finishing hanging the ceiling boards, some were still hanging wall boards, some were filling in the gaps at the bottom of the wall. Then the taping and mudding began!

The ice cream man drove by late in the day and hit pay dirt! Terry bought ice cream for all who was there packing tools into the van! He asked the driver to come by every afternoon this week. It makes you feel like a kid again - waiting for the familiar music of the ice cream truck.

Jambalaya for dinner tonight. Yum! Sad news is that Jayaphia is no longer cooking for us. I believe she is ok, but focusing on other opportunities. This week's guest cook happens to be a friend of Ifama's. Small world.

Terry got plastered this afternoon

Literally!

I was wondering why Sally had her light on this morning. That never happens and I was concerned that she was not feeling well. When I actually looked over there, I realized it was the sun! I slept until 6:30! I NEVER do that here! No time to waste - the "Mutha Board" has been posted! Y'all have a good day.

Photos

I don't know how many I can post here, but here are a few from the first couple of days. The three grandchildren, Christopher, Shawntea, and Antonio. Ms. Janice is in another and a quick "before" picture.

Monday afternoon

Don Keiser has arrived safely. We are one. We are one tired, dusty group. More than half of the sheet rock has been hung. We are excited about the changes. I am TRYING to download pictures for you. All of us worked inside again today. An amazing crew!

Ready to go!

Good morning! We are one big group of UU's here! When Don arrives, there will be 26 of us...all working at Janice's. We found out that she is also a UU, and a member of the First Church. Today will be drywall day. Some of us will be working in the yard. It needs a lot of attention, and 26 people in a single shotgun house will be cramped. The temp. is predicted to approach 80 degrees.

Sunday work report

Hello Blog readers! We had quite a full day. First of all, the weather was perfect for us. It was warm enough, but not humid. We arrived at Ms. Janice's house at 8:30. She was there to greet us, along with her three young grandchildren. We unloaded and staged the tools, and took a few quick "before" pictures. The insulation began and we were able to insulate about 90% of what will eventually be done. We had to leave a few places undone because the outer clapboards haven't been done.

We put up the vapor barriers and got the ceilings insulated. The first dozen or so (of 120) sheets of drywall were hung.

You would be so proud to see Terry, Sparky and George working with these young children. They wanted to help so much, and the guys showed them how to use the cordless drills, staple guns, and many different hand tools to help rebuild their home. They were with us all day and helped quite a bit. They are 14, 13 and 11 years old. They are very polite and excited to learn.

We were also entertained by the neighborhood chicken, who seems to like the activity of a lot of people around. She especially liked eating the lettuce and bread crumbs we dropped in the yard as we were eating lunch.

We got a lot accomplished today, and everyone seems to be tired, yet happy.

The rest of the crew from Follen arrived tonight. There are 4 of them. We were also joined by a group of 7 UU's from Bloomington -Normal, IL. 6 are first timers. They are looking a bit wide-eyed at the moment. They will be joining the rest of us at the job site tomorrow.

The joint is jumping!

Check the blog for photos. I am exhausted and don't have the energy to download tonight.

It's nice to have Kate Landis with us. She started the work day with a circle prayer and ended the day with check in, a short story about changing the world and a hymn. There is more love somewhere - and we'll keep on until we BUILD it.

More tomorrow.

Sunday morning

5:45 AM. The troops are starting to shuffle into the dining room. Day One plans: Unload/stage the tools. Get out your knives and staple guns because we are going to be insulating! Terry was being proactive (as usual) and bought the first 40 sheets of drywall along with the insulation and vapor barrier. Ms. Bailey's story will open your hearts. Sally said that she is incredibly happy that we are here to help. I can't wait to meet her.

Pizza Delivery

Craig ordered pizza a day in advance (from Sherborn) to be delivered tonight (in NOLA). The door was locked, so the pizza place called Craig's number. Rich Cohen called us from Sherborn to say that the pizza delivery guy was at the door at FUUNO. Thanks Rich!

We have arrived

Most of us are here. Don Keiser is coming in a day or two. Howard and Pam Teibel greeted us as we deplaned...along with Marco Kaltofen. What a wonderful greeting committee! We found out that Nancy Levy has Lady Gaga as a ring tone on her phone! Call Nancy and we'll be dancing!

Note from Sally:
Saw the house - it's perfect! Nice visit w Quo Vadis, Maggie and Lindsay, a treasure. Cold here they say at 64 but warming over next days. Can't wait to see everyone!

Note from Sally and Roger

Do you know where your tools are?
They are in Trussville, Ala listening to c&w at Lone Star steak house. It's all good.

Note from Donna:
Somehow, I get the visual of my boots doing a boot scoot boogie with Roger's moose pants, surrounded by some swinging drywall square dancers...

The van is rolling

Sally and Roger packed the van and headed Southwest this morning. I don't think they could have fit one more thing in.