Workers pour the slab for what will be Mary Perkins' new home.
It's been too long since I wrote a blog for all of you. Tomorrow marks the 10 month milestone since Hurricane Katrina hit. What an awesome thought that we have been doing this for 10 months!
In my last entry I told you that I had gotten my building permit. That was on May 1. Well, it's almost July 1, but I now have a slab for the new house. It's been rough going these past two months, getting everyone to come do what needed to be done to get the slab poured. A guy I grew up with -- in fact he lived next door to me -- is in the contracting business. He agreed to help me when the house was being demolished. So he took on the task of setting everyone up to get the slab poured. That included hauling in the dirt, leveling it out, forming up, plumbing, etc. And he did not charge me a dime!! People are wonderful, aren't they!!
Then, I heard from a group from a Baptist Church in Mt. Olive, Miss. They want to adopt me and build my house! That means TOTALLY!! They will frame it up, sheetrock it, everything. I am so excited.
Now for an update. Ten months out and still no grocery store. Wal-Mart is, or will be in three weeks, at full capacity. I will say they have been a great corporate citizen and we appreciate it. The new Lowe's store will open around July 19. Home Depot is building their store. K-Mart and Sears are going to be opening together in the old K-Mart building. The McDonald's is getting ready to pour a slab for their new restaurant. Things are really hopping.
But, you know, it is still very depressing. The past week I took two library groups on tours of the area. As you ride down the streets in Waveland and Cedar Point (a community in Bay St. Louis), it still looks like a war zone. Yes, the debris has pretty much been cleaned up, but there is nothing there but barren land, where homes once stood and people lived.
The company that got the bid for the new bridge has been working diligently. They are currently removing all the old pilings and will begin driving new ones soon. Two lanes are scheduled to be opened in May, 2007, which is a long way off for us who have to drive 45 minutes to get to Gulfport. It used to take about 20 minutes along the beach. Now you have to go north to the Interstate, then over to Gulfport and back down.
Sorry I took so long to write this update. I promise I won't take so long next time. Just don't forget us down here. We still need help.
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Good things DO happen!....Bless ya Mary!
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Jun 28, 2006 7:29:36 PM)
Mary,
Good to hear good things are happening to you. Keep that smile on your face.
Connie Malone
Connie Malone, Waveland, MS (Sent Jun 29, 2006 1:19:45 AM)
Good for you Mary! I am so happy that you are making such great progress. Where would we be without the kindness and generosity of all of the volunteers! My exterior doors and windows are being delivered today. It's been almost two and a half months since I ordered them. My house is one of the few that is still standing south of the tracks in Waveland.
I am grateful for the progress, slow as it is! Good fortune!
Kimberly, Waveland/Bay St Louis (Sent Jun 29, 2006 8:35:35 AM)
I had been concerned about your rebuilding. It has taken us from Aug 29 until May to get rolling again. Our first house burned and we were rebuilding when the wind and water destroyed what was being rebuilt.At least we'd already lost everything the first time and didn't have to go through that again. Tomorrow we'll meet with the contractor about cabinets but he can't give us a date of completion. Can't get upset about that because who do you talk to that isn't going through pretty much the same. The day I can drive across the Bay of St. Louis on the new bridge will bring back such memories. When I first moved here I was following my husband in my car (with our cat sitting up front and looking out the window). I had been so depressed all the way here because I so hated to leave my friends in another state. When we started across that bridge and the sun was setting I just got this peaceful feeling and realized that good things were right in front of me.Best of luck to you and please write more posts when you can.
shine, the Pass (Sent Jun 29, 2006 7:05:53 PM)
Mary, What a blessing! I'm soooo happy for you! I'm crying tears of joy. I also love how you are telling people out there about the plain good honest kindness of the man you grew up with, who helped get that slab done. I know so many men like that in the Bay. It does a heart good to know that they are out there and standing tall and doing what needs to be done in the worst of circumstances. Character will come through in times like these. I am soooo happy for you and praying that all will be well.
Laurie, CO (Sent Jun 30, 2006 1:14:03 AM)
This is such awesome news, Mary! I'm so glad you took time to tell us about your slab. I can only imagine how exciting this is for you! Happy 4th to you!
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Jul 1, 2006 11:42:50 PM)
you were always adopted....you just didn't know it....another monster comes ya'll have a place to stay at my house!!!! we may have to make pallets to accomodate all but it's sturdy and dry!
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Jul 3, 2006 7:42:50 PM)
shine, once again ....da name is toooo cool!....but I thought you wuz a man?....I'm stupid at times....durnitt....or dangitt!!! LOL!!!....cuse my spelli'n
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Jul 5, 2006 9:46:12 PM)
Mary, your beautiful story erases all the negative about the contractor who had his equipment stolen. There are good and bad people everywhere. But, I must believe that the good will shine through above the bad. I just returned from my third trip to The Bay and Waveland, and I must agree that some areas are actually more depressing and looking more abandoned due to the total clearing of the debris. At least when the debris was there people were around and trucks and contractors were working. Now it is starting to be overgrown and looking very sad. BUT there was also hope as I saw new houses in many areas and some streets in The Bay were actually looking pretty normal. New paint, landscaping, and lots of people around. So I guess, do not loose hope, progress is being made, however slowly. God Bless you all. We love you and have not forgotten you.
Peggy, Naples, Fla. (Sent Jul 6, 2006 10:51:15 AM)
Mary, I'm so happy that you are on your way to having your home back. It's wonderful that you are staying and rebuilding. You are an asset to our community! God bless you and thanks to all the people who have helped us in our stuggle. God bless us all......
Mary Anne Blanchette (Sent Jul 6, 2006 6:26:06 PM)
Mary..congradulations on your house 2 be! Next time you're in Cedar Point, head on down Julia Street (left off Dunbar when heading to the beach) and you'll find 2 houses that God saved. I might add that God also saved 5 lives on our block (not us), but others who wouldn't leave.(We went to Mom's where it had always been safe in the past....) WE and the neighbors are rebuilding our lives but it is taking soooo long. Gotta get on lists for everything, but we're used to it now. We've done EVERYTHING on our own from mucking to gutting to re-wiring the whole dang house. Well, actually, we is my hubby! It will come together eventually as we take it one day at a time.
Mary you are so right about how empty Cedar Point looks since mostly just slabs are left. I'm not sure what was worse.....mounds of debree or nothing.....
Oh and by the way...........the hole on our street past our house is LOTS DEEPER than it looks. It claimed two cars yesterday and has claimed MANY cars and trucks in the last 10 months. It even got the mail truck last week. You are VERY WELCOME to turn around in our driveway.
Cheryl McLain Bragg, Bay St. Louis, MS (Sent Jul 7, 2006 2:43:43 AM)
I am originally from Brookhaven, MS but live near Salt Lake City now. I just returned home from my first visit to MS since Katrina. I toured the coast on my visit and am still in awe of the courage of these people. You cannot imagine if you haven't seen the destruction. I have followed the coverage and looked at the devastating pictures more than most because it is my beloved home state. I still had no clue what it really looked -- and felt like. God Bless you all and know that we care and are praying for you.
Brenda King, Tooele, UT (Sent Jul 7, 2006 3:25:19 AM)
Mary, thanks for your updates... I am from Wyoming but have led two teams from my church down to Bay St. Louis for relief efforts (one in September '05 and one in March '06) and have absolutely fallen in love with your town and your neighbors there. We are hoping to get back down there again to help in September '06 and December as well, around Christmas time. Keep writing, though - I still feel so connected through these stories and others in my heart to your town.
Matt, Laramie, WY (Sent Jul 7, 2006 12:34:27 PM)
Mary, how wonderful people can be. I am so glad you've kept up with your articles about the progress on your home. Is the Walmart a Super Walmart? If it is, you can buy groceries there without having to drive so far. Stay strong and know we haven't forgotten.
Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Jul 7, 2006 11:34:47 PM)
Bless you Cheryl.....
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Jul 10, 2006 10:46:31 PM)
Mary, I loved hearing about your foundation finally being poured. We took a group of young people to the Lakeshore Baptist Church to work in your town in June. What a blessing you all were to us! We couldn't believe how welcoming you were to us when you had suffered so much loss. You will be in our prayers and we are returning with an adult group in October.
Jan Hoaglin, Hilton Head Island, SC (Sent Jul 18, 2006 3:56:20 PM)
Mary and Shine and all of you other brave souls in The Bay - God bless you all. After hearing the horror stories from New Orleans, it is great to hear from a community that is truly rising from the ashes. 17 years ago, Hurricane Hugo gave us just a taste of what you all have been going through the past year. Your courage is a true inspiration.
Kim, Charleston, SC (Sent Jul 18, 2006 5:16:52 PM)
What wonderful joy you must be feeling! I can sympathize with you, as I was a flooding victim of Isabel in 2003, whose home was left, but just barely. We lived in a FEMA trailer for a year until the repairs were made. We also brought home a brand new baby boy to that FEMA trailer. I know how exciting it can be for the simple things to happen, like your concrete slab being poured. I wish you all the luck in the world, and I wish you many blessings and miracles.
P.S. After a year in that trailer, I refuse to go camping ever again!!
Debbie, Dorchester County, Maryland (Sent Jul 18, 2006 6:41:03 PM)
From Mobile, Alabam, we haven't forgotten yall. All good hopes and wishes from us to yall and keep on the blog!
Lisa
Lisa Alabama (Sent Jul 24, 2006 1:17:07 AM)
4 GENERATIONS ON ONE PROPERTY...HOMELESS ANIMALS...FATHER WITH ALZHEIMER'S...SMALL GRANDCHILDREN STARTING SCHOOL....LIVED IN BACKYARD FOR 3 MONTHS UNTIL FEMA TRAILORS ARRIVED....COUSIN, DEAF, BURNED OVER 80 PERCENT OF HIS BODY....MANY WORRIED ABOUT TOXICS...WE JUST WANT TO LIVE...ANYONE OUT THERE TO ADOPT US....EMAIL ADDRESS IS GINGERLYNN1958@HOTMAIL.COM...PLEASE SOMEONE..ANYONE!! PLEASE ADOPT US.
Ginny Johnson (Sent Jul 24, 2006 6:19:54 AM)
shoot Debbie, camping is fun!
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Jul 24, 2006 9:15:18 AM)
Ginny, I'll help you if I can
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Jul 25, 2006 12:02:33 AM)
DEBBIE,
I AM HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR GOOD LUCK.. KEEP IT UP...JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT OUR GREAT UNION WORKERS ARE IN FOR THE LONG HAUL AND ARE HELPING TO REBUILD WHAT HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF OUR GREAT LAND...WE HAVE SENT MANY, MANY OF OUR WOMEN AND MEN AS WELL AS A GREAT AMOUNT OF CASH TO THIS PART OF THE REGION AND MY INTERNATIONAL.. THE BCTGM.. HAS CONTRIBUTED 250 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP IN THE "HIT" AND "BIT" TRUSTS...I AM PROUD AS OUR FELLOW AMERICANS SHOULD BE AS WELL...GET THE WORD OUT!!
NIKEE R. CRAINE
PRESDIENT BCTGM LOCAL 326 DETROIT
NIKEE CRAINE, DETROIT, MI. (Sent Jul 25, 2006 3:07:48 PM)
Woo Hoo!! So good to hear good news for a change! I am so happy for you! We are still praying for all of you!! God bless!
Theresa Mack, Germantown, MD (Sent Jul 27, 2006 8:42:39 AM)
I'm happy to hear things are finally moving for you. I live up in New York but if I can help in any way please let me know. I'll send you whatever you might need.
Michelle Brimo, Buffalo, NY (Sent Jul 27, 2006 5:02:27 PM)
Mary, I'm a Tennessean, and Tennessee is called the 'Volunteer State.' It's wonderful that a chruch group found that volunteer spirit in their hearts and are doing something to truly make a difference in someone's life.
Charlotte Hamilton, Knoxville, Tennessee (Sent Jul 27, 2006 11:20:01 PM)
I'm very happy for you and everyon else making headway. I was in your area a year ago this month. I spent 2 weeke votunteering in the area. it was my second time. I came on my own and bore all out of pocket expense. I would love to return. However I'm sorry I can not afford to make the trip. I left my own remodel of my house and committed all of my resourses to the fine people in Miss. Now its time for me so start back up on my place. I have gotten the rest of the material and hired out the trim work. Hopefully when I finish I can return and help someone. I don't belong to a church so I don't have a group to help me. Everyone in Mississippi and surronding area is in my thoughts and prayers. You all have touched a place in my heart that I didn't relize I had.If I were to ever win the lotto a great deal of it would go to rebuilding the south. Colorado has great people. I found great people in the gulf coast. I have even thought of moving to the area. I don't know of too many people that could or would be as strong as the folks on the gulf coast. You people have taught me to be stronger and more caring. Best of everything to all the gulf coast residences.
joe Lentz (Sent Apr 11, 2007 2:07:36 PM)
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