From Dr. Bob on 1st year anniversary

As always he is both caring and insightful.

From Dr. Bob:

" Dear Friends and family,

The first anniversary of Katrina's visit here on the Gulf;f Coast has come and gone, and Ernesto has become a distant whimper. Every day for the past 2 weeks, giant billows of STORM CLOUDS have appeared across the coastal skies. I do not have the poetic words to describe how beautiful and magnificent these masses of condensing atmospheric water can be, especially in the angled light of sunrise or sunset. The sheer bulk of these clouds, and their height, is astounding and awesome. Moreover, this display is inspiring, not frightening. It is more like a show, an artistic exhibition, and not at all like a threat to life and property.

I suppose that the August skies of Mississippi's Gulf Coast have been this way since time immemorial. I know, even in the short time I have been here, how this awesome beauty convinced so many people that they should settle here, set down their generations of roots, and raise up families and communities so enamored of this place.
Living was easy, and peaceful, friendly and, for the most part, secure. Locals felt comfortable and safe in their close knit communities and neighborhoods. Some even found a way to prosper here, but even those who did not, could fall back on the "rich blessings" of an extended, ever present family or circle of close friends, known and faithful since childhood.
Then, August 29th, 2005, Katrina paid a devastating visit, and everything changed: STORM CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON became a malevolent harbinger of unstoppable destruction. For those who did not, or could not flee, death, or at best terror, took its toll. Those who fled, returned to witness their communities and homes unrecognizable, and to experience the dread and/or hopelessness of ever recovering their former lives.

Now it is August 30th, 2006 - a year and a day beyond Katrina. In Biloxi and Gulfport 95% of the debris that was an everpresent reminder of what happened, has been removed. In its place is a lot - too much - of empty space, and the kind of eerie quiet that comes from the relative absence of human re-inhabitation. Of the homes and businesses still standing (not yet demolished) in East Biloxi, Bay St. Louis, and portions of many other Coastal towns, less than 20 % of these are inhabited today, or show any signs or repair or reconstruction. Here and there are bright, clean, newly-constructed, or partly constructed homes and businesses amidst a virtual sea of bulldozed empty lots. Large portions of these cities - where there was relatively mild or moderate wind or water damage - are back to their pre-storm appearance, activity and occupancy. There, one could hardly detect Katrina's visit, save for the sparseness of leaves or branches on mature trees that were stripped by Katrina's winds. In those neighborhoods, a future of progress and promise is noteable. But at ground zero (eg. East Biloxi and Bay St Louis and Waveland) only the white sand beaches, centuries- old Live Oak trees, AND, the beautiful STORM CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON , offer promise and a future beyond Katrina.

What about the people then ? Ahh. Here there is extraordinary promise. A depth and a wealth of strength, resilience, persistence, determination, and - most important in my view - faith. A deep, spiritual faith in a God that is merciful and generous and forgiving and loving. A faith in the power of people cooperating and working together in families, organizations, or communities to get things done. Yes, houses and homes are important places in which to mature and feel safe, but as I listen to people's hopes and dreams, I see these 'structures' important more as symbols of the possibility of rising above losses, standing up with heavy burdens, and recreating a productive and satisfying life for self and family and community. Such rebuilding is tenuous, and people know it is. They are not unaware that Casinos, Condominium developments, boutique stores, entertainment centers, tourism, and an influx of visitors will change the heart and soul of this part of America. I believe many are preparing themselves - 'practicing', if you will - to move on, either to a new place, or to into a changed old place. Preparing to survive, thrive, and succeed in nurturing the best of the caring and compassionate communities they grew up with."