I'm in!! I'm in!! That's all I need to say to those who are following my life these days in the recovery and rebuilding of my house in Bay St. Louis, Miss., where Katrina almost totally destroyed our town and county.
Today the house passed the final inspection. But the Friday night after Thanskgiving I spent the night in the new house, albeit on an air mattress on the floor. Then Saturday I went out and purchased a mattress and box spring, had them delivered and installed on the floor in the bedroom. That's where Pokey the dog, Freeway the cat and I are sleeping until I can get out and purchase the bed I want.
The newly finished kitchen
This is the busiest week of my life, since the library is once again this year hosting its annual Holiday Tree Gala. This event kicks off the holiday season in Hancock County. Businesses, schools and organizations enter to display either a 3-foot or 6-foot tree in the library. The ornaments can be traditional or ones indicative of the businesses, organization or school. It is a beautiful event and the public is invited to come by, view the trees, visit with Santa Claus, have cookies and punch and hear holiday music.
It is nice to return to some familiar things in our lives, like the Tree Gala. It makes me feel all good inside to know that we will once again this year be hosting the Tree Gala. This is our 12th year, so it is definitely something that is familiar. And it makes you feel all warm inside to come into the library, see people decorating trees. You can feel the community spirit and the excitement.
Another feel good thing is the fact that our library system has been approved for temporary library buildings courtesy of a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET). Our Waveland Library will be the first in the state to receive a temporary library building. And this week SOLINET, the Mississippi Library Commission and the State Library of Louisiana will host a summit on the role of public libraries in re-creating community. The purpose of the summit is to provide a framework for planning library buildings and services in recovering Gulf Coast communities. What a great thing that the Gates Foundation and SOLINET are doing for libraries in the Gulf Coast area. After Katrina, people poured into the library with tears in their eyes, just looking for information, for solace, for someone they could see and touch.
Freeway the cat
So, now to the house. When I walk in the house these days, I am in awe that I am so blessed to have this as my own. Well, mine and the SBA's. But, really mine. And it's all brand new. Everything has been moved from my storage unit and I have boxes and furniture piled up everywhere, but all that can come with time. Little by little, I can go through boxes and decide where things go.But right now I am just savoring the moment and enjoying the new house and all it means to me. And none of this would be possible right now without the love and commitment of the many volunteers who came through Lagniappe Church to give of themselves and help me build my house. And many of those volunteer hours were done in 100+ temperatures. What a blessed person I am!! I am so blessed by God. Without Him and the spirit of all the volunteers, I would not have made it this far. For all you who volunteered and worked on my house, please accept my deepest appreciation for your work. You have made a difference in my life and I am most appreciative.
Pokey the puppy
So, things here are looking up somewhat. I guess since the house is finished, I have more of the holiday spirit. Yes, there are things here that are still bad. We still do not have a grocery store except for Wal-Mart, because a grocery store doesn't want to come back until the bridge is finished. Well, that's another six months. I guess we will make it, but it really is an experience when you drive 40 miles to a real grocery store. You just stand there and enjoy every moment of the experience.
The temporary beach road is completed. It is a truly emotional experience when you drive down the beach road you used to drive down all your life. It's not quite the same, but it's there. You can actually drive from one end of the seawall (as we natives call it) to the other end of the seawall, In other words, from Bayou Caddy to the Jourdan River.
I hope all have a blessed and happy holiday!! But I'll write more before Christmas. Thanks for keeping up with me and writing words of encouragement and love.
Katrina rekindles Santa spirit
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You're in! You're in! Happy words, indeed. True to cat form, Freeway appears nonplussed but Pokey certainly looks delighted. Enjoy!
Denise, Chicago (Sent Nov 29, 2006 4:15:25 PM)
Woot!! Glad to hear you're in your house. Doesn't it feel weird, to be back your bed? I know it did for me, couldn't sleep the first night.
You can't complain about our 'only' grocery store. Everytime I go in I have to allow extra time to talk to folks, because it never fails, I will see six people I know there. Sometimes it feels like a high school reunion. LOL I'm glad we are coming along, slowly but surely. Please don't forget us, and keep answering our prayers.
Vanessa, Waveland, MS (Sent Nov 29, 2006 7:51:43 PM)
Hi Mary: So glad to hear you are in your new home for the Holidays. My husband is a claims adjuster and has been away from home basically for two years between the four hurricanes in Florida the previous year and Katrina. I have seen the destruction first hand as he was staying in Gulfport and I congratulate all the hard working people in these areas for sticking to it. Happy Holidays.
Sue C, Corpus Christi, TX (Sent Nov 30, 2006 9:45:41 AM)
Mary,
I burst into tears when I saw the story caption, Home for the Holidays. Something told me that this would be your story and that you had finally moved into your new home. And then to see Freeway and Pokey at last...more tears of joy! I thank God for your joy and for the volunteers and your neighbors who have made it possible. I bet this year's Tree Gala is going to be the best ever.
Michael Roberts, The Woodlands, TX (Sent Nov 30, 2006 1:32:43 PM)
Merry Christmas, indeed, to you and Poke and Freeway, Mary! What a blessing to finally be home again. I am so happy for you, and want you to know what your story, like so many others, has meant to me. Following your progress with all the ups and downs has truly made me more thankful for what I have, and more compassionate to those who suffer any kind of tragedy in their lives. Please know that you are prayed for often still, and here's to many happy days in your new home.
Dot Walker, Memphis TN (Sent Nov 30, 2006 1:52:20 PM)
GLad to see it is all finally coming together fro you and your family. Especially at this time of year... it really puts the joy back into the season.Seeing as in the US you just gotten over yuor THanksgiving.. SHows how truley you have so much to be thankful for. GOOD luck and thanks to all the volunteers friends and families who truely help make this possibe for you and yours!!! Happy Holiday's From Cape Breton , NOva Scotia
~Lexi, Cape Breton Nova Scotia , Canada (Sent Dec 1, 2006 8:27:46 AM)
What a good Christmas you are going to have in your new home. Your dog and cat are adorable. Our dog (Kodi) looks so much like Pokey that they have to be related. Ours came from the animal shelter in Waveland. She is our hero because shortly after we got her she woke us up in the middle of the night because the house was on fire. We had just started to build it back when the storm hit and we are still trying to rebuild AGAIN. We won't be back home for Christmas but I am just totally thrilled that things are going so good for you now.
PS: each time I read you diary I wonder if you had an Aunt that lived just west of the Bay bridge on Phillip Street (I think that's the name). When I first moved here we rented a house next door to this lady. I had been living in big cities like Miami and Dallas and my introduction to a small town was moving to Bay St. Louis. The people were the nicest I've ever met. I haven't moved far but I still miss living there.
mindy, Pass Christian (Sent Dec 3, 2006 5:07:44 PM)
God be with you all the days of your life,I am so happy for you,enjoy Christmas,L.J.
Linda Stephens,Deming,New Mexico (Sent Dec 6, 2006 11:16:38 AM)
Mary--I'm so happy to hear you, Freeway, and Pokey are settled into your new home just in time for Christmas! Freeway and Pokey are adorable--thanks for sharing their pictures! And that Tree Gala at your library sounds beautiful--wish I could see it! I love going to the library--a couple here in Peoria are my "homes away from home."! Anyway, I'm glad to hear how life's improving little by little--you truly are blessed!
Olivia, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Dec 6, 2006 3:47:13 PM)
Mary, i'm so excited for you! I almost cried when I saw the picture of your house and saw that you are going to be in your house for christmas! Thats wonderful! I was one of the people that came down and worked on your house earlier this year. Hope you have a great Christmas!
Liesl, Pittsburgh PA (Sent Dec 7, 2006 4:55:31 PM)
I can't wait to get back to the Bay for the holidays to see all the improvements. My brother recently reported the excitement he felt just last week when he returned home to find that his FEMA trailer had been removed. He said that the moment was even more emotional than the day he came to check his rubble and found a FEMA trailer awaiting his arrival. Yes, it must be wonderful to have a home again and finally your yard, too. Merry Christmas!
Carol Wahler, Falls Church, VA (Sent Dec 7, 2006 6:09:13 PM)
I've been away for a couple weeks - and I come check the diaries here to see your wonderful headline, Mary, and I, too, got all teary eyed and so excited for you that I feel like I would if it were MY new house. Thanks for the pictures of Freeway and Pokey - they are soooooo cute and I can tell that, even in his cat way of nothing-inmpresses-me that Freeway loves his new space, too. He'll get into the spirit of things when you start unpacking more of those boxes!
You have been richly blessed with such an awesome gift - a new house - that I'm sure nothing you get for Christmas this year or years to come will beat this one. Thank you so much for sharing your heartache and joy with us! Merry Christmas to you, Freeway, and Pokey from Mackenzie, Sebastian (the cats), Henrietta (the hamster), and me.
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Dec 8, 2006 3:54:31 AM)
Great news, thanks for sharing it! Merry Christmas!
andy,booneville ms. (Sent Dec 18, 2006 7:26:58 AM)
Mary, I was thrilled to see you have moved HOME! We haven't met but I feel I know you. My daughter is staying an Lagniappe and I watch their blog. I am raising funds here for LPC to use for homes that need the extra help. I actually used some pictures from your building project in my letter to local businesses to show them what is being done (and what still needs to be done) what fun it will be to share with everyone that you are moved in. Take care
and may God Bless you in your new home.
Kathy Spencer, Oostburg, Wisconsin (Sent Dec 19, 2006 10:33:06 AM)
I have followed your story since Katrina hit and you first went on-line. I am so very happy for you and your "family". Merry Christmas and maybe even better yet Happy New Year.
Ellen Andersen Omaha NE (Sent Dec 21, 2006 5:57:39 PM)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Freeway and Pokey from me, Lucky, and Godzilla (my cats)! Hope 2007 brings a lot of blessings into your life.
Olivia, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Dec 22, 2006 12:13:58 PM)
Mary, it's great to see the finished product. I wish you all the happiness in your new home and was happy, blessed and thankful to be a small part of your rebuilding process. God bless.
Jason, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Dec 22, 2006 7:54:25 PM)
Mary, hope you enjoy many happy years in your new home. I wish that the local groups like Lagniappe Church and Mississippi Home Again could get more national coverage.
As a retired librarian I was so glad to read the Gates Foundation is helping out down there. As I recall when they started giving the computer grants years ago the first and largest were given in the southern states. (Here in Sacramento probably half of our public access computers were put in through the Gates Foundation). Thank you for including that information; it's reassuring to know that a variety of organizations are helping you down there, even though it's not always covered in the national press.
Rosemary, Sacramento CA (Sent Dec 22, 2006 11:27:15 PM)
Good for you, Mary! Pokey and Freeway have a nice place to play now, and after reading what Stephanie wrote, I can just see Freeway "helping" unpack things! All the volunteers have just been wonderful, and will never be forgotten. To Mary and the other people on the Coast, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We haven't forgotten you.
Jane, Southern Mississippi (Sent Dec 23, 2006 12:50:14 PM)
Merry Christmas Mary,
I was so very glad to hear that you're back in your home. Pat and I purchased a gutted house on Gulfside several months ago, were lucky enough to find a contractor and moved in September. Still haven't made a decision on rebuilding on the Beach. Will drop by the library for a chat. Happy New Year!!!!
Sandy Shaver and Pat Rich, Waveland (Sent Dec 25, 2006 7:54:47 AM)
Mary--Your article was inspiring. Your joy at being in your new home shines from your heart. And, how wonderful it is that you can share this with your beloved pets. I work in disaster human services and it is the personal side of disasters that often gets missed by planners. We need more stories like yours to bring this point home. Thank you.
Pat Ellis (Sent Dec 27, 2006 11:01:57 AM)
Mary,
I first arrrived in Bay St Louis on Sept 3 2005 as part of the Florida National Guard. Having participated in relief efforts in Florida for all five hurricanes in 2004 and 4 in 2005, one of the first things I look for is the spirit of the survivors. The peolpe i met and workked with the month we were there was so similar to what I found in Florida, I never had any doubts you fine folks would recover just as we have. I'm glad you were able to get in your new home for Christmas it just seems to make everything right. I hope to get back over your way to see the recovery first hand. Have a very Happy New Year.
Keith Dobson, Jacksonville, Fl (Sent Dec 27, 2006 2:54:43 PM)
Congratualtions, Mary!!!! They joy of being out of that aluminum "bomb" that we call a FEMA Beemer is only eclipsed by sleeping in your own bed again. Y'all are just AMAZING over there. I make it a point to take a job over there at least a couple times a month just so I can surround myself with positive vibes and lots and lots of hope. Each visit reveals yet another business open, one more home rebuilt, and high spirits. We are so blessed over here in OS that we often forget just how tough it is and has been for y'all....Way to go, and again congrats to you and your 4 legged babies. G-d bless you and yours. Shalom.
Navah, Ocean Springs, MS (Sent Jan 9, 2007 8:31:22 PM)
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