Last day
Last night quite a few of us enjoyed the other side of New Orleans: Bourbon Street. I know the tale of two cities might seem rather expected, but that’s exactly what this place is. The people on Bourbon Street sure know how to have fun…and then some.
Earlier, we had started off the night with a final group gathering: a pizza & beer party. We found out that the Archdiocesan policy doesn’t allow beer on the grounds, so we headed across the street to an abandoned house. But a guy named Rocket, who was remodeling his home next door, invited us all over and regaled us with stories and jokes with a lot of local flavor.
On our last day today, we were ready to go at it again, but ended up not really doing much of anything. The first house we headed to belonged to an elderly couple…the woman has cancer and the man is blind. The house, which is located right next to a canal within sight of the Superdome, was in one of the worst neighborhoods we’ve seen so far. Not from flood damage so much as how blighted it was before the disaster. Since it was knocked partially off its footings, it’s scheduled for demolition. Our job was to empty the belongings. But after a quick inspection, our leader determined it wasn’t structurally safe to enter. Another more professional group will have to take care of it.
So, we headed to the next site in the Broadmoor neighborhood…a study in contrasts to the last house, but only a short distance away. The mixed-race area is full of well-maintained homes on a live-oak lined street with a flurry of rebuilding activity going on. The water level was probably about 8 feet here 17 months ago. Most homes had two stories, so they made it through OK. After a quick check of the upper level of this duplex (the bottom half has already been renovated), our leader said it wasn’t storm damaged enough to meet the criteria of the program. We headed back to our base to get wait for the other half our group and start on the 20-hour trip home.
Speaking of the other group, I haven’t introduced you to them yet. I’ve gotten to know them socially in the evenings, but haven’t had a chance to work alongside them, so I don’t have as much background. But, take a look:
Alex Albers, Tom Georgia and Mike Reynders are three students at St. Norbert College. They gave up the last week of their break to come down and do this.
Paul Albers is Alex’s dad, and a plumber by trade. He’s been enjoying doing something different: demolition rather than construction & renovation.
Ed Skoldberg is a New Jersey transplant, entrepreneur and consultant who’s enjoying being a stay-at-home dad with young children right now…although he can’t quite resist coming up with new business ideas.
Denis Vanden Heuvel is a shipping and receiving manager at Broadway Automotive in Green Bay. He’s always in good spirits and tells a heck of a story.
Kay Street and Madeline Turner are two nurses in different fields in Green Bay. From all reports, they were like the Energizer bunny…just kept going and going and going…
Jenny Ruechel is a second grade teacher at Notre Dame school in De Pere. She seems quiet and shy, but I know you can’t be if you’re a teacher. And that’s been confirmed on the trip…she’s reportedly a force with a hammer and pry bar.
Ray and Karen Brown are a retired couple who are known by everybody at Lourdes. They sing, they teach, they greet, they minister. And they’ve both got a very unexpected brand of humor. You’ll have to travel with them to find out what I mean. A lot of fun, these two are.
Janice Loehlein works at Cellcom in De Pere. I’ve seen her a lot around church, but never really had a chance to meet her before. A wonderful woman with a big heart and well liked by everyone.
Chris Hasselbacher is a social worker with Brown County. She’s a self-appointed adoptive mom for the week for Jared in our group. Hadn’t met her before, either…everyone speaks very highly of her, as well.
Bob Krzwina is an electrician, father of three and religious ed teacher. His youngest boys – twins – are in my son’s class. I’ve gotten to know his family over the past few years teaching religious ed and through school. Another quiet guy, but great sense of humor and hard worker.
And last but not least is Mike Vander Bloomen. Without our deacon, none of this would have been possible. He’s a great guy…an unassuming leader who’s very easygoing, down-to-earth, supportive and humorous, as well. I’ll be eternally grateful to him for answering the call for help and inviting the rest of us along on the experience.
Well, the car’s heading out…I’ll do a wrap-up tomorrow.
January 12th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Hey Patrick,
Thanks for the profile of the other team!
It looks like ice and snow between you guys and home,
so travel carefully and with our prayers!
This blog is a great gift!
We put a notice into the bulletin
so the parish family can tap in!
What a great “imaginasium”!
God bless-
Fr Tim
January 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Patrick I want to thank you and all of the people you mentioned for coming to our city to help out. It is greatly appreciated. Many of us here have been busy helping our friends or helping ourselves as well as working to earn a living. It is great to have concerned people from around the country helping us out. Thanks again
Chris Wood
January 12th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Many Thanks to ALL of you for the great ministry work you have done this week. I admire the courage that each one of you have for taking up this challenge. Pat, you’ve have given all of us a great gift with your reflections. I couldn’t wait to read it each day. I look forward to hearing more from everyone about your experiences. I will keep you in prayer as you return — I hear there’s supposed to be some icey weather. God bless you all and safe travel!
Robin Therese
January 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Sounds like it was an awesome experience and I’ll bet you can’t wait to do it again. Volunteerism is kind of crazy that way.
Being a southern girl at heart, I wanted to head down right after the hurricane, but had family members talk me out of it. You have inspired me. I’m sure I will be using some of my vacation this year to do the same as your group.
Thanks Pat & Co.
January 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
What a week it has been. I cannot believe it is over. We may not have made a big difference overall, but to each individual family and person we helped we have made the biggest difference. We have given them the ability to move foreward. I return to Wisconsin a different person. I hope I will always keep that person with me. Thanks Pat for recording everything. The only words I can use to describe this experience is Amazing in so many ways.
January 13th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Ditto Jeni! I was just talking to some friends about the accomodations in New Orleans and I mentioned what John said at our orientation–that the sometimes less than ideal circumstances gave us the opportunity to imagine what life was like after Katrina for those who lived in the Superdome or on the highway. But we had it so much better than they did-we had people bringing us food, and we had the opportunity to go the French Quarter if we wanted, not to mention the fact that unlike people who lived through the hurricane, we knew when our experience would be over.
It seems so unreal to be back home today, I’m glad to be here, but at the same time I feel ready to go back at any time.
January 14th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Pat,
Thank you so very much for doing this. Having spent the week with you, chatting almost every night about your adventures with your group. It was really great to come home and read about them again. It allowed me to reflect back on the work our group did also. What a week!
Your comments about the girls are right on. We had some of the toughest girls I have ever met. They did not back down from any challenge. Also, the young men in both our groups. They certainly have a problem down there with “The Lost Generation”, but it is refreshing to see our younger generation pitching right in and helping out without having to get paid for it.
For me, it was really great to see so much progress in the city since our trip there in April. To see more people there, traffic lights working, businesses coming back, houses being rebuilt(even if it is slow going).
I look forward to the next trip down.
Many thanks also to everyone who supported us in this great adventure we were a part of. I hope at some point in your life, you all get a chance to experience something that will change you, the way this has changed me. I have another new group of friends who will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Thanks again Pat, you did an awesome job.
Denis
January 14th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
We just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks Pat for describing our adventure for all of us in such an awesome manner! We really enjoyed getting to know our fellow workers - it is a group that we will never forget. When we went to mass yesterday and saw Pat (who we did not know before the trip) with his family across the way and when we ran into him in the gathering area hugs were exchanged - how cool!! There were bonds made that can never be broken and people will be seen in a whole new light!
Even though the accommodations and the food on site (or lack there of) were not that great, it doesn’t compare to what the people of New Orleans have to endure on a daily basis!! We have it sooo much better and are so blessed. We need to keep these folks in our thoughts and prayers. We will never forget the people of New Orleans, how greatful they all were to all of us. There is still much help needed down there.
We are so thankful to have had 30 awesome people to make this adventure with. None of you will be forgotten and each of you has a special memory for us.
Thanks again Pat and God Bless!!
Rick and Dawn Crabb
January 15th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Hi Pat:
As members of the team that went down to New Orleans we want to say that you superbly captured the mood and real issues that are being faced there. We appreciate you sharing our experience with so many others.
What you failed to report is that IF an award was given to the most creative member of the team it would be to you. The two “blow up” chairs with a cooler as a table and also the plastic drawered dresser that you provided, surely brought a “hominess” to our environment! Your dedication to keeping up your blog was very impressive. What a guy! Full of creativity! What a great experience this has been and you depicted it so well. Thanks!
Also, “thank you” to those from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and surrounding community who prayed for us, contributed financially, and allowed their family member to participate. Together we CAN make a difference!
Ray and Karen
January 17th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hi Pat:
Thank you so much for doing this! It is a great way to share our experience with our family and friends. I really appreciate the dedication you had to continue this each day.
Returning to New Orleans 9 months after our first trip down was very eye opening. To see less blue tarps on the roof tops and more businesses back open for business along with a lot more traffic on the streets was really good to see. It shows they are coming back and we volunteers are making a difference.
Thanks again!
Janice