Just wanted everyone to know the drive team rolled in safely today. Camp is set up and we are about to go to bed. I will talk to you later.
Buddy
Monday, October 03, 2005
Ground Zero
Big day. Saw many things, some so difficult to see it made my head hurt and nauseated me. Buddy and I spent a couple of hours driving around the north shore of Lake Pontrachain. As we drove south from our command site the devastation grew. Roofs, cars, mattresses, refrigerators, all of the belongings of people's lives piled in huge stacks on the side of the road or scattered about in standing canal water. The debris fields are unbelievable.
We turned east on the road hugging the north shore of Lake Pontrachain. Stilt houses and lakefront property (restaurants, businesses, homes, you name it) completely reduced to pieces of lumber and sheetrock and roofing. Cars in the water. Boats flipped upside down on the side of the street. Children's toys strewn about. This to me was unbearable. So many pictures, so many stories. But there will be time to tell them later. We had arrived at Ground Zero for Slidell, LA.
As we crawled along this road taking pictures and video, we saw an older man with a crowbar and hammer working away on his stilt house. A stilt house with only shards of stilt left. But where was the house? No trace of a lakefront house. I stopped and asked him if I could take his picture. He allowed me this grace. As I talked to Charlie, I learned that he had lived on this lakefront for 31 years. He was devastated. We didn't know why he was working on the house because there was nothing left on the house to work on. But he knew he had to do something. And this was all that he could do. His dreams, life, future, security, and hopes were devastated
in the destruction caused by this hurricane. He shared more with me and Buddy than I ever expected.
Personal pain is so often protected dearly; we were offered a glimpse of his hurting heart.
I mustered the courage and said, "Charlie? Would you mind if I got out my video camera and asked you a few questions? Or would that be too much?" Charlie bowed his head and turned his face towards the lake. "Oh no," he said, "that would be too much." I'm certain that behind his glasses there were tears. Buddy wanted to hug him, but knew that might be too much as well.
Surely we had arrived at Ground Zero in Slidell, LA. And we might never be the same again.
Glen
We turned east on the road hugging the north shore of Lake Pontrachain. Stilt houses and lakefront property (restaurants, businesses, homes, you name it) completely reduced to pieces of lumber and sheetrock and roofing. Cars in the water. Boats flipped upside down on the side of the street. Children's toys strewn about. This to me was unbearable. So many pictures, so many stories. But there will be time to tell them later. We had arrived at Ground Zero for Slidell, LA.
As we crawled along this road taking pictures and video, we saw an older man with a crowbar and hammer working away on his stilt house. A stilt house with only shards of stilt left. But where was the house? No trace of a lakefront house. I stopped and asked him if I could take his picture. He allowed me this grace. As I talked to Charlie, I learned that he had lived on this lakefront for 31 years. He was devastated. We didn't know why he was working on the house because there was nothing left on the house to work on. But he knew he had to do something. And this was all that he could do. His dreams, life, future, security, and hopes were devastated
in the destruction caused by this hurricane. He shared more with me and Buddy than I ever expected.
Personal pain is so often protected dearly; we were offered a glimpse of his hurting heart.
I mustered the courage and said, "Charlie? Would you mind if I got out my video camera and asked you a few questions? Or would that be too much?" Charlie bowed his head and turned his face towards the lake. "Oh no," he said, "that would be too much." I'm certain that behind his glasses there were tears. Buddy wanted to hug him, but knew that might be too much as well.
Surely we had arrived at Ground Zero in Slidell, LA. And we might never be the same again.
Glen
Camp Slidell...redo
Late last night I was finishing my post and as I was sending it, the internet connection crashed. Someone immediately commented...'That's the problem with hurricanes.' Spoken like a true veteran.
Camp Slidell. What an amazing place. Anywhere from 35-45 people milling about, coming and going to work sites, bringing supplies, taking supplies. There's an outdoor washeteria, 9 washing machines and 11 dryers, with 2 long tables down the middle of it for folding clothes, all covered by a white tent. 4 showers, 4 bathrooms, enclosed completely. Man, someone around here is one amzaing carpenter!
RV's, fifth wheels, tent trailers, campers, huge family tents, small 2 man tents. It's just like a regular KOA. (minus the swimming pool, unless of course you count Lake Pontrachain...)
The tool shed is a piece of work. Work gloves, shovels, hammers, power tools, chainsaws, ropes, hooks, wheelbarrows, you name it, they've got it. Even have two bobcats and a flatbed trailer. Pretty much Mike Crowley's dream set up! Who needs Home Depot?
And for those of you who attended church at Davis Park yesterday morning...I understand there's an ugly rumor floating around that Buddy and I didn't know how to get to the site here in Slidell. That's actually only a half truth. We had a pretty good idea of how to get here, we were just calling to confirm what we knew. Even though we got the directions from back home, we STILL had to call the Site Coordinator for the most accurate directions. But hey, glad to know that we're good for a laugh or two...or three!!
For those of you reading, feel free to add your comments to our blog. We'd just love to hear from "alluh y'all"!
Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We expect the drive team to be here early this afternoon.
Out for now.
Glen
Camp Slidell. What an amazing place. Anywhere from 35-45 people milling about, coming and going to work sites, bringing supplies, taking supplies. There's an outdoor washeteria, 9 washing machines and 11 dryers, with 2 long tables down the middle of it for folding clothes, all covered by a white tent. 4 showers, 4 bathrooms, enclosed completely. Man, someone around here is one amzaing carpenter!
RV's, fifth wheels, tent trailers, campers, huge family tents, small 2 man tents. It's just like a regular KOA. (minus the swimming pool, unless of course you count Lake Pontrachain...)
The tool shed is a piece of work. Work gloves, shovels, hammers, power tools, chainsaws, ropes, hooks, wheelbarrows, you name it, they've got it. Even have two bobcats and a flatbed trailer. Pretty much Mike Crowley's dream set up! Who needs Home Depot?
And for those of you who attended church at Davis Park yesterday morning...I understand there's an ugly rumor floating around that Buddy and I didn't know how to get to the site here in Slidell. That's actually only a half truth. We had a pretty good idea of how to get here, we were just calling to confirm what we knew. Even though we got the directions from back home, we STILL had to call the Site Coordinator for the most accurate directions. But hey, glad to know that we're good for a laugh or two...or three!!
For those of you reading, feel free to add your comments to our blog. We'd just love to hear from "alluh y'all"!
Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We expect the drive team to be here early this afternoon.
Out for now.
Glen
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