andtckrtoo
Cathlete
I'm back from 10 days of volunteering with the Red Cross in Louisiana. I did not see much of the devastation, as I was in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, but the people I worked with were all from New Orleans. I think what struck me the most is how many of the people staying in the shelter where I worked continued to be hopeful. They lost everything, yet were pleasant, cheerful and even encouraging to us Red Cross folks. I had one older man ask me to sit down with him, and he proceeded to tell me of his rescue and how he and his neighbors managed to get out just in time. He came away with the clothes on his back. Everything else was gone. Yet he was more concerned with me getting something out of volunteering than he was about him regaining his stuff.
Of course I had the others. Another older gentleman was leaning over a barrier staring into space. I had been running around doing things (I walked an average of 20 miles a day while I was there) and noticed him every now and again. He never moved. I finally asked if I could get him a paper, and he agreed, but slowly and hesitantly. He had lost his wife as well as his house and he was understandibly in shock over everything. With my urging and that of the other volunteers, we finally got him down among other people so he could talk. I have friends who are there check on him daily. My heart goes out to him as he loved his wife so very much.
The folks in Shreveport are also pretty special. I had to turn away at least 500 people on both Sunday and Monday of last week (Labor Day). Everyone wanted to help and were willing to do whatever asked of them.
Oh yeah, I cried a lot - both in sorrow and in joy. Everyone I was with came from New Orleans where there was no cell phone or land line contact with the outside world. The best part of my day was listening for the screams of joy when someone realized that a parent, child, boy/girlfriend, relative or special friend was indeed alive. I have to admit that this was one of the most incredible weeks of my life. I am so thankful I was able to go. I did learn what is important. Do yourself a favor and hug your loved ones today - they are the only things that really matter.
Of course I had the others. Another older gentleman was leaning over a barrier staring into space. I had been running around doing things (I walked an average of 20 miles a day while I was there) and noticed him every now and again. He never moved. I finally asked if I could get him a paper, and he agreed, but slowly and hesitantly. He had lost his wife as well as his house and he was understandibly in shock over everything. With my urging and that of the other volunteers, we finally got him down among other people so he could talk. I have friends who are there check on him daily. My heart goes out to him as he loved his wife so very much.
The folks in Shreveport are also pretty special. I had to turn away at least 500 people on both Sunday and Monday of last week (Labor Day). Everyone wanted to help and were willing to do whatever asked of them.
Oh yeah, I cried a lot - both in sorrow and in joy. Everyone I was with came from New Orleans where there was no cell phone or land line contact with the outside world. The best part of my day was listening for the screams of joy when someone realized that a parent, child, boy/girlfriend, relative or special friend was indeed alive. I have to admit that this was one of the most incredible weeks of my life. I am so thankful I was able to go. I did learn what is important. Do yourself a favor and hug your loved ones today - they are the only things that really matter.
