Mary Perkins, center, poses in her Bay St. Louis house with volunteer sheetrockers from the Lagniappe Church. Photo courtesy of Mary Perkins.
Hey bloggers! Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote, but I was kinda waiting for more things to be happening before I sent an update. Well, now things are really hopping. From the picture, you can see the volunteer group with Lagniappe Church that installed my sheetrock. The weekend before that, another volunteer group installed all my insulation, and they did it in four short hours!!
Yes, we have sheetrock, and it has since been painted. And the ceramic tile was installed this week and has been grouted already!! Our next step is to install the cabinets, the light fixtures. Then we get the plumber, the air conditioning guy and get moving!! We have to put all the interior doors in, molding, etc. I have to order the appliances, get them delivered.
But, folks, let me tell you that we are moving right along, and we are now looking at weeks, not months. It gives me hope and humbles me to know that I have gotten this far due to the wonderful blessings of help from the volunteers at Lagniappe Church. And from God!! I am truly blessed!!
Things here are also getting better. The temporary beach road has now been completed and you can now drive from one end of the beach road to the other end. It is really nice. The bridge is also moving right along, and yesterday the ferry started running. It can carry up to 20 vehicles, and runs every day from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. One way trips take about a total of 45 minutes, what with loading and unloading. It sure beats having to go north to the Interstate and then across and down, which can take up to an hour or more.
It has been 14 months since the storm hit, and it still seems surreal. Yes, things are better, but there is still so much loss. So much of our town's historical buildings and homes are gone. And every day more and more are being demolished. That is the sad part. Plus some people are just not able to rebuild. There is nowhere for people on fixed incomes to live. The amount for renting an apartment or house has just about tripled here since Katrina. And there is not a lot of affordable housing here, especially even for the contract workers.
Anyway, since my house is moving along at such a clip, I have a better attitude. There's still a lot of pain for where I grew up, where I've lived all my life and what has been lost here. But we are now looking up. Except that we still have no grocery store. There is talk that a grocery store wants to come here, but will not open until the bridge is completed. Well, that is supposed to happen in May, 2007. We need something done sooner.
Anyway, keep reading. There will be more ahead.
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Congratulations, Mary, on all the wonderful progress on your home! And thanks again to everyone who has volunteered their time, money and sweat to helping us all recover from this unprecedented disaster. We couldn't do it without you and we are all extremely grateful.
David and Angela Sallis, Bay St. Louis, MS (Sent Nov 3, 2006 4:06:11 PM)
Mary, I am so happy for you. We call Mary TIGER at the Chamber. She is a true pillar of the community. And, she has put her own personal needs aside as she helped get the Library----the heartbeat of our community----back ticking. Mary, I love ya and I cannot wait for the block party when you get back in your home. It will be better than ever. I pass by the house every other day to see the WONDERFUL progress. George and I are finally beginning work on our home too. Thank Goodness for God, MSNBC, Jean Larroux and the Lagniappe Church.
Tish Williams, Hancock Chamber Director, Mississippi (Sent Nov 3, 2006 10:30:41 PM)
O.K. spelling Lagniappa, is difficult..........but the Sun Shines on them. I think you got a "bakers dozen" with those wonderful people Mary!....I still wanna see a photo of Freeway and Pokey though. You're not forgotten.....see ya in Feb. 2007!
andy,ms (Sent Nov 4, 2006 7:20:42 PM)
Wow Mary... thanks for the picture. I'm thinking that it looks like a palace to you about now! I've been helping my mom move into her own home and helping her decorate so I know how challenging it can be just to pick out new carpets. You must be feeling so excited about your new place - and overwhelemed by all the decisions you need to make.
I remember when Maine suffered from its Ice Storm in 1998 and you couldn't drive many places without having to do major detours because of all the downed trees and falling ice. After a week it was sooooo good to be able to use the most direct routes again. I can only imagine how Bay St. Louis will feel when the bridge is up and running again, and how good it must feel to have the beach street all fixed.
Thank you so much for the update, Mary. I know you've been really busy, so I'm glad you took time to say hi to all of us! Still thinking and praying for your recovery...
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Nov 4, 2006 8:08:28 PM)
Mary--I'm glad to hear the good news about the progress on your house. It's looking good and looks like the volunteers have been doing wonderful work--you have been truly blessed.
It's sad to hear about all the demolitions and the loss and pain around you, especially the people who can't rebuild and are on fixed incomes. It's a pity there aren't more volunteer groups like Lagniappe and Habitat for Humanity that could help them. Not to mention the lack of affordable housing, which I imagine would not only make life hard for people who want to live there but also be a roadblock in the way of volunteers who otherwise would be interested in coming down there, because they would need someplace to stay.
But I am glad to hear how you're all now looking up and about the improvements like how the bridge is coming along, and the temporary beach road, and the new ferry. Hope you can get a grocery store before Mar. 2007.
Take care and God bless.
Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Nov 5, 2006 2:32:57 PM)
Thanks for the blog, Mary, and am so happy for your good fortune. And to Olivia of Peoria, I hope that anyone wishing to volunteer isn't put off by lack of housing. There are organizations that have housing networks that one can get in touch with. In addition to Lagniappe Church, you might call St. Rose deLima at (228) 467-7347. They have been housing groups and have been working hard to expand their recovery operation. Also, "Helping Hands" of Catholic Charities has a network throughout Katrinaland. You can probably call your local office to get contact numbers. The contact number in New Orleans is (504) 895-5439.
carol Wahler, Falls Church, VA (Sent Nov 5, 2006 6:49:01 PM)
Congratulations, Mary! I'm so happy to hear that your getting closer every day to being in your home!
Laurie, CO (Sent Nov 9, 2006 11:18:40 AM)
Glad that you are coming along with the new house. I have a friend that had a house in Long Beach but was destroyed. They have bought a nice cottage in the old town district in the Bay and love living there. I'm even thinking about trying to find something in that area that when I retire I can get down there. Was sorry to hear that there isn't a grocery store open yet. I thought that Wal-mart had a big store in Waveland. As soon as that bridge is complete things will really start taking shape. For anyone interested in helping out the animal issue in that area check out mesbeth@aol.com/animals.html. Happy home coming Mary.
Lisa, Huntsville, AL (Sent Nov 9, 2006 1:09:33 PM)
Looks Great Mary. Thanks a bunch for thinking of those of us who wish we could come home but have no place to come home to. Al and I think of all of our friends and family everyday. Hope all your plans work out. Keep hanging in there. Love ya!
LindaV (Sent Nov 10, 2006 12:12:38 PM)
That is so exciting Mary! I remember when our group was putting up the OSB board with the hundreds of staples and starting the roof. Your house has come so far in such a little bit of time, its truely amazing! Take care
Liesl, Pittsburgh PA (Sent Nov 18, 2006 8:29:57 PM)
Mary--hope you and yours have a warm, wonderful Thanksgiving!
Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Nov 19, 2006 2:27:16 PM)
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