I went back to Bay St. Louis three more times, once with my husband. It forever changed my perspective on my “stuff”. It’s just stuff. My experiences helped me to appreciate every day but most importantly it helped me value people. I remember Bridget from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi visiting us in Seattle just smiling, saying, “Hi” to everyone she met. As an upbeat, positive survivor of Hurricane Katrina she asked me, “Why don’t people smile around here?” “Don’t they know how lucky they are?” Do you know how lucky you are?
My Lasting Memories of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Benny’s passion for the people of Bay St. Louis.
Putting a heart on the debris you see and seeing it not as debris but part of lives.
Meeting Cassie. Listening to her story and hopes of rebuilding not just the house but her life and her life as a teacher.
Asking strangers, “What’s your story?” “How are you?”
Strangers coming up to us to say, “Thank you.”
Foundations, destruction, eerie quietness and miles of no people, no buildings and battered trees.
Southern hospitality.
Pat and Willie making incredible food for us every day for lunch.
Pat and Willie’s house was lifting up 3 to 4 feet with the surging water waves pushing the house off the two-foot pilings. Neighbors watched and waited for it to float away, but it never did. “I wish it had all washed away. That would have been better than having to go through everything,” says Willie.
Kindness, generosity, anger.
Tears, stress, jamming and breaking the staple gun.
Sunrises every morning on the church front porch.
Saying goodbye to Topher.
Seeing Bridget again, “Hey!”
Learning how to tape and mud drywall.
Fried Dill Pickles at Catfish One.
The Thank You sign for the Relief Workers at the airport.
The dedication of Richard, Benny, Sam, Lulu, Kristen, and Bridget along with their love and commitment.
