Tuesday, October 18th

It’s been a few days since my last posting, but not too much has happened here.  My friend Gerald arrived on Sunday to start working up here.  He’s staying at our hotel, so we can ride to work together.

Can you see the difference?  Our new laptop arrived today and that’s what I’m using to type the blog.  Unfortunately it hasn’t made me anymore productive or creative, I’m afraid.  Oh, well, it’s free, the blog that is, as in, it doesn't cost anything to read it.

Almost everyone who is due to come to Millington has arrived.  So many have lost everything and are struggling to come to grips with the situation.  The full impact of Katrina and Rita has yet to be felt.  The most devastated areas of New Orleans will try to rebuild, but people are already moving to other areas rather than go back to their destroyed property and lost belongings.  Many will try to sell their homes, but more people will be leaving than will be looking to move into those areas, at least in the beginning.  It appears to be a seller’s market in areas that weathered Katrina with little damage.  The same may not be true for those areas hardest hit.  Will the former residents find buyers?

Mayor Nagin wants to infuse the city with quick cash by setting up a string of casinos in the city.  Where is the cash going to come from?  The citizens of New Orleans?  Tourists?  Where will the tourists stay?  Who will staff the hotels and where will they live?  Who is going to work in the casinos and where will they live?  

Hey, not only is Elvis’ home, Graceland, here, but so is the boyhood home of Alex Haley.  Wow!!  Who would have thought “Rock Around the Clock” started right here.  Alex Haley and the Comets!  What?  That’s not right?  “Roots”?  O-o-o-h, THAT Alex Haley.  Not Bill Haley.  I’ll bet it’s still a good place to visit.

Still praying for Fr. Deo’s success in his studies.  Also for the two young men and the young woman who we are sponsoring in Uganda.  They’re getting ready to start their exams, and we hope that they apply themselves and do well, as that is the only sure way to get ahead there.

Hurricane Wilma…  Cat II!  21st named storm of the season.  Let’s also pray that Wilma is not intent on visiting the Big Easy.  Projections have it turning North and crossing the Southern tip of Florida.  Wishing no one bad luck, I hope the track is fairly accurate so minimal damage to any area will occur.

While walking Maynard this weekend, two geese flew by, honking and flapping their wings.  Quite a sight!

I heard a joke this weekend, too.  Seems that a young Jewish mother and her toddler aged son were sitting on the beach when a huge wave came and washed over them.  When it receded, the child was gone.

The mother was, of course, overcome with grief.  She tore at her hair, and wailed, looked to heaven and pleaded with God, “Oh, please Lord.  That is my only son.  You know that my husband is recently deceased and my boy is all I have.  I love him and cannot live without him.  Please Lord, have pity on your unworthy servant and return my son to me.”

Sure enough, another huge wave washed over her, and when it receded, the boy was once again sitting beside her.  The woman looked at her son for a long time.  Then she looked up to heaven and said, “He was wearing a cap!”

Take care and God Bless!!

Dean