All I can say is - you tell it, girl! Sooooooo true!

I think that anyone who was upset by your previous post should stop and think about it. Are they the same people who constantly think everything is fine? Are they the same ones who can't see the enormous amount of damage doen by this storm. I came through there the sunday after thanksgiving and there was mile after mile off damage from both Katrina and Rita. I remember the huge effort when everyone was glued to the tv to help. Maybe we should ask MSNBC to do an hour long show every saturday about the efforts down there and highlight both the "Good" and "Bad" responses from our government. I pray that those families succeed and flourish but having gone through flooding and damage know it will be sometime well into the future before we know.
Thank god for what we have and what we are able to assist our fellow americans with both materially and spitirually.

Patti, I think you are already a journalist!!!...keep writing!

God bless you Patti! You tell em! And all those people are still doing their jobs even today. My 18-year-old son helped evacuate our neighbors down the street. The wife had to stay behind with the civil defense. My son and our neighbors came back to Waveland Monday evening, early Tuesday morning after the storm. They spent the next few days, cutting, clearing and searching for survivors. I was afraid for my son who is not trained for that kind of work, but he did it because of his love for his neighbors and community. And he still stays to help rebuild and go to college full-time. And he is just one of many who are courageous, kind, and unselfish. I look forward to the day when my husband and I can return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Amen and praise God!

Patti, Thank you so much for writing..."the rest of the story." Please give your family a huge hug and tell your wonderful husband, "Thank you, for all of us." I am always amazed at how people with a "calling" to serve the community respond without hesitancy, going where "angels dare to tread," without complaining. In the few times in my life where I have been faced with something terrifying... my first instinct was to cut and run. These first responders have to fight that instinct and do the opposite, with skill and confidence and we are all made better by their courage. I am extremely grateful for all the first responders who served in the Bay and Waveland. When our community needed you, you were there. That is something no one can forget. I think the untold story is just as you said...hundreds of normal people who did the most difficult things they have ever done in their life, and who have paid with their health, their hearts, and some with their careers. There is a place where all the kindnesses done, the sacrifices made will be honored. I hope that place is our home town...otherwise, I know a lot of people who have stored up "treasures in heaven," which is not a bad place to store what matters most.

Patti, I agree with Andy. You ARE a journalist. You are also a great inspiration to so many people. If we all depend on the media for information, we are all shortchanging ourselves. The truth is that many, many Americans know you are all still suffering along the Gulf Coast. The problem is that the media, in its wisdom, has ingrained in the American mind that this all happened to New Orleans and no where else. It makes me sad to think about how history will record this. "A big hurricane named Katrina destroyed New Orleans. It was followed closely by another big hurrican called Rita that damaged New Orleans even more. And the people of New Orleans suffered greatly." We CANNOT let that happen!

Patti - Great comments. I wish a national newspaper would take what you wrote here so maybe just a few extra people will "get it".

Patti, thank you for your comments. Amidst so much suffering and chaos, it's amazing that anyone was able to function rationally, One of my brothers who road the wave , literally, walked two miles on Tuesday morning to hijack a grocery cart, fill it with bags of ice, and push it through the debis on Nicholson Avenue, in order to bring ice to his neighbors. Many people don't realize that there was no running water and that any bottled liquids were coated with thick, filthy muck left by the surge. Clean water and/or ice was desparately needed. It wasn't until about 10 days out that volunteere started driving through the neighborhoods with ice, water & MRE's. Very few people had working vehicles and the only food, ice & water was up on the highway, miles from the majority. I know of another hero who took his boat into swamp/lake areas up by I-10. He found a family with eight children on day three. They were all buck naked. I suppose after three days, it was more hygienic to remove the filth than keep it on one's body! You are right, you are the one who is "rich". You are rich with compassion and love as well as with experience, perhaps some experience that you may have rather not had, but one that, I believe has enriched, spititually, the lives of many. I can only hope that most of those who have not visited the area since the storm are empathic enough to understand the continuing grief that hangs heavy on the hearts of the hundreds of thousands of people who lost everything and who are struggling daily to rebuild their lives and their communities. For those who do not or cannot make the connection, they will likely remain among the "poor" of heart unless faced with total devastation.You, on the other hand, will likely, forever and ever, be a person that your family, friends, neighbors, and strangers can always count on. And to MSNBC. I again thank you for keeping this blog going and I thank NBC nightly news for continued coverage. This story is not over, it has hardly begun. Best to you.

Here here Patti.... I haven't forgotten!! I check this site daily to see if someone has something new to say. I so wish I wasn't (financially) destitute myself because I'd give more if I could.

And please tell your husband that I appreciate his willingness and sacrifice. I do not have the consitution to be a law enforcement officer; I think all of them are criminally underpaid and crucified unfairly. (Much like lawyers.... those few bad apples ruin the entire bushel!) If you ever need to get away and want to come visit Maine, let me know and I'll give you a tour! Now THAT is something I can do! And having survived the storm with your family intact is no small feat in and of itself.

Your post was right on....I guess I read it correctly! {{{Hugs}}}

You said it very well, Patti. People need to hear it.

I definately understand your frustration. I, too, search the news every day for something about Bay St. Louis and the surrounding cities. So glad that Kathleen Koch of CNN did that hour long special about BAY ST. LOUIS (her HOME TOWN). It's a struggle to keep in the news and although I love New Orleans, too... other cities and towns and people were affected besides JUST NEW ORLEANS. My father died in his house the day Katrina hit. A tornado hit his house. He was the ONLY person to stay on his street and the ONLY part of his house that collapsed (and the ONLY house on his street that collapsed) was the side that he was in. The other side of his house was intact and dry (the attic, I mean); none of the walls on the first floor were intact. Anyway, I have a personal irritation with the news and WHAT it covers as well. I'm with ya, girl. Keep MS, LA, AL in the news!!! We cannot forget the state that the Katrina-affected people are in!!! Thank you for such a well-said post. :)

yes, Cher...this storm IS history...and our children's children will read about it someday...something like this will surely make Americian history books....man...now i'm sad....again

Wow...what a powerful entry! Thanks SO MUCH for posting this. You spoke everything that has been on my heart. I love NBC for their wonderful coverage and the fact that they mention the Katrina and Rita victims on almost every broadcast, but it's not enough. I honestly believe that we just need a 30 minute segment EVERY DAY on your progress. God bless you my dear and just take comfort in knowing that you are in our thoughts and our prayers.

WOW also-- I have been working in South Texas with the Katrina folk since the storm. I have never met a more hearty group in my working years. Yes, they need money, they need everything yet will work for it all once the needs are met. BASIC AND I MEAN BASIC FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER. I applaud you all and will send another package of shoes, clothes etc to your area. After we sent the last batch we recived a email saying to stop, you could handle no more--does not seem to be the case from several different postings I have read. I will continue to work and pray for all the survivors of these great storms. Keep up the postings and include shipping addresses for relief help. The government is slowing down in all relief areas and it will be up to us to help us--big brother is going away.

Not a journalist, huh, well, as far as I'm concerned, that is a compliment. Your truth speaks so much louder. Keep on keepin on.

Patti, you hit the nail on the head and I strongly commend you for that! I don't even turn my television on anymore because I am so disgusted with what attracts America's attention (my own included!).

That said, I hope those in the Gulf Coast can remember that they are still rich. Yes, because of family, love, etc.; nothing ever compares to that. But also because of where they are. As unsympathetic as it sounds (and believe me, I DEFINATELY do not mean it so...what has happened is utterly tragic), if you weren't where you are now, you probably wouldn't be alive. I hope we can open our eyes. I hope we can see the tragedy the world over. The starvation in Africa. The unnecessary deaths after the Pakistani earthquake. Look at why people leave behing their loved ones and risk their lives to flee to the richest countries of the world. And, those who are in such need after Katrina. Where are these rich and famous "heros" we invite into our homes to worship, during some of our most precious moments of the day when we finally have time to relax and do what we want...what we choose to do....where?

Dear Patti;
i read you diary, and was touched like so mnay others about the realities you describe. One area I disagree with you on. the nation hasn't forgotten the folks down south. Matter of fact they love us. as long as we are are yelling "Git 'er done," telling fart jokes and generally living up to our reputation as a bunch of ignorant sh-t kickers, when we act like that, they love us. We're a real funny bunch of people. I mean having to buy your clothers at the Dollar Genral store and having bad teeth because you can't pay the dentist cause you have eat is downright hysterical.
Lord konw they never get tired of hearing jokes about people who live in trailers.
However when we do raise our voices and complain a little bit, when we do try to remind folks that FEMA trailers, Ramen noodles and living in outrageously overpriced motels gets old real quick, they quickly get bored and/or offeneded and swtich the channel over to American Idol. Keep up the good work ,the good writin'. As far as getting the attention of the folks in Washington, where is Ernest T. when we need him most?

Patti, you told such an elegant story. Thank you for reminding us of what is most important, and please keep writing. I've been to Bay St. Louis and Waveland three times since Katrina, and have never before met such an appreciative, kind, and strong group of people. It has been an awesome experience volunteering in your community.

Patti,
I believe that the best way to keep the story alive is through volunteers who are coming down. For example, when we came back from BSL and Biloxi in January, we described our experiences, not through photos, but through storytelling in which the hypothetical setting was our quaint Connecticut town. Every scene from MS was told as if it were OUR church's stained glass window, OUR main street, and OUR school. Through this imaginative "journey", listeners were able to picture what it must have been like and it made the whole thing more personal for them. It's hard to grasp the magnitude of the devastation unless you've been down. We're sending another team in May and, since my old summer stompin' ground is "the Kill", my family will be back to work all summer. Please know that through volunteers, "the rest of the story" is being kept alive all across this country.

The american public has ADHD as a whole, if it's 5 min. old "we" don't care.
People don't realize this will take years to fix if thats the right word.
Don't worry, there are those of us that know about the hero's.

Patti you are so right with what you said. It touched me so much because right now in America, the news of the Katrina victims and what has happen has died down and everything is back to normal as if nothing disastrous has happen.
Everyone has to have a voice and you Patti, you had that voice. By everyone reading your column, many should realize and focus on helping the needy than following the gossips of celebrities.
The people of the KATRINA VICTIMS ARE MORE IMPORTANT.
Keep holding on strong Patti, your husband, your daughter and many Katrina Victims. As you said, "you are rich of their love and who they are to you."
If I was rich, I would donate millions of money to spend on clothing, food and shelter to you all.
May the Lord be with you all.

Patti, You are so right. The world doesn't want to hear anymore about it. If people working on one of the newstations have family that lived in the area, their area was covered. But that's about it.The people that are just plain Janes (or Johns ) are always forgotten. Your husband is a hero but if he doesn't have alot of money, to the world he's a nobody. All I can say is that all of us nobodies might not have the money to help you out and some of us might not be able to do the work you need done but boy do we have mouths, and I for one plan on using it. God Bless you all and always remember you are the richer one.

Judy, i just read your comment and i think it came from your heart! thank you, cause i guess i,m a nobody too...rather be like us than them....you know IF i had money....i wouldn't be worth a crap....LOL! bless ya Judy!

Looking at these images is both sad and demoralizing to our country, especially the response to the disaster. It clearly shows the ineptness and incompetence of our government as well as the President in dealing with a crisis that has scarred this country and may do so for years. The system is supposed to help its citizens in the event of a disaster. What hasn't been done before enrages me, even after the storm has passed and the dust has settled. The real questions that remain is will life in New Orleans return to normal? Will the government learn from its mistakes? If we are created equal, then it is time to reinforce and redifine that very meaining that has become prevalent in the US Constitution.

Amen
Tell it like it is.
None of the Mississippi area has gotten the help
or coverage they need. My Son was living in deiberville,ms when the katrina hit.my brother-in-law
still lives in Biloxi.
God bless you and your Family

My heart and prayers go out to all who suffered thru the worst two hurricane seasons!! I live in South Florida and Katrina hit Broward County the worst, which is where I live. How terrified my mom, daughter and myself were that early Sunday morning. I thought I had never seen such destruction until the battery operated TV showed me the Gulf Coast. However, it was nothing compared to what you folks endured and continue to endure!! Shame on the Bush administration for the lack of assistance!! Keep the Faith! Ever want to come visit SoFlo, give me a call!
G-d bless us all.
LEF

First let me start out by saying that I praise you for your words and wisdom for those of us who haven't endured the hard ships that the gulf coast did, but I will say that we all have to live in this world together and when I hear stories like this, it makes me thankful for "real" folk in a time of desperation. The time of taking care of eachother in this world has come to a sad end, everyone is so worried about self. I guess if we are to find a positive in the midst of a negative, it would be that the real folk stepped out on faith to save one another and to me that is what is important. To hear you more thankful for your family than money let's me know, that you value what you have been given in life, it is too bad that more people can't. You all have experienced something that alot of us may never understand, but you also have something that alot of folks will never obtain and that is remaining thankful and grateful no matter what is to come your way. God Bless you and your family, and I pray that our Lord will give you far more after this than you ever imagined. Praise God for speaking up so that lets us on the outside know.....there really are genuine, sincere folk in a world that seems to be dying.

I just read another post called "Walking on Water." Isn't that a wonderful analogy? We can walk on the rough waters of the raging storm if we have the faith to do so. The people of the Coast are walking on water, and I admire their courage and faith.

I know this is not on the subject of your post. I lived in Waveland and went to Bay High school before the new one was built. I was a college student and went through Camille which was bad, but nothing like this. I graduated from Bay High and got an engineering degree and have lived in Florida (decided to get out of hurricanes), Arizona, CA and now live in Texas. I wonder about those I knew back then and can only remember a few names such as Basil ?, Lucian Bougious, Tom Hayward, Albert Thompson (also a college roomate). I was in the class of 1965 at Bay high. Good luck to all of you struggling there.