My stay at UPR camp in Slidell La. 1/3 to 1/29 From Detroit Kate
02/02/2006 18:47
Time
does strange things down in the Gulf Coast. So much
happens so
quickly yet so slowly you are never really sure what day it is.
Twenty-six days feels like three months or three days.
I arrived to the camp in the dark. The "Looters Will Be Killed " sign
Lynn spoke of was still up and it's eery to see at night.
I was greeted by a small bon fire and some folks from around the
country around it. Saw my old buddy, Gordon and he told me where to
find Carol and Polly. It was a happy Covington Mini Reunion and so much
fun. The camp moms got me hooked up with some food and a tent to sleep
in. The 23 hour ride down was rough. We ran into a rare winter tornado
in KY. My friends and I had spilit up some where in Tenn. and I felt
somewhat lonely until I got to camp where I felt so "Welcome".
My first morning at camp the mist rose off the bayou in this mystical
way and to my surprize I was not the first one up. Polly was up making
her famous "Love Cookies" and Carol was up making coffee and hot water
for tea.
I spent my first day at camp just catching up and resting up. I helped
out around the camp by cooking. At dinner everyone came back from their
various volunteer jobs and I heard all about the various project the
camp members had going on. There were about 12 to 14 people where at
that time.
On my second day I was determined to find or make a space to do
massage. It was windy so my outdoor idea didn't work, I finally gave up
and moved indoors. I cooked dinner again and cleanning out the kitchen.
The camp stays a buzz with activity no matter how many people stay at
camp for the day and time just flys by. I did a few massages. I was
still tired.
I pretty much stayed tired for the first week then I discovery Ruby's
Natural Foods in Slidell and got some iron.
Day two, I again woke to Polly's "Love Cookies" which is an awesome way
to wake up it brings you back to your childhood but I realized I could
not keep eatting them!
The 3rd day I headed out with Polly and Lisa and we headed to Mama D's
and then to the Love Cafe. We helped as much as we could before it got
too, late because getting over the bridge at rush hour is hard. We got
stuck on 10 for 2 1/2 hours. It took us an hour to get two miles. No
kiddin! But the following week they opened another lane for 10 and that
problem cleared up for the rest of my stay.
All of the young volunteers that I meet down in the Gulf are awesome young people. It's just so interesting that after you are there for a litle bit you can kinda just look at a young person and tell where they work and what group. Mama D's kids have a Rasta vibe. They are doing some awesome work. But the sad fact is there are not enough of them, and many of the locals are suffering post traumatic Stress syndrome. It's a very urban setting in the 7th ward which reminded me of Detroit so I felt right at home there. Some of the things they need at Mama D's are: "EVERYTHING" Mama says... water, water, water... tools work gloves building materials honey tea vegan food soy milk The kids are starting an medicinal herb garden so seeds. But what I see that every group needs are volunteers and alot of them. There are of in-fighting going on in all of the groups I met with and worked with. The whole area is stressed and I really believe they need community organizers downthere helping the various groups deal with conflict resoulution. To be continued...
quickly yet so slowly you are never really sure what day it is.
Twenty-six days feels like three months or three days.
I arrived to the camp in the dark. The "Looters Will Be Killed " sign
Lynn spoke of was still up and it's eery to see at night.
I was greeted by a small bon fire and some folks from around the
country around it. Saw my old buddy, Gordon and he told me where to
find Carol and Polly. It was a happy Covington Mini Reunion and so much
fun. The camp moms got me hooked up with some food and a tent to sleep
in. The 23 hour ride down was rough. We ran into a rare winter tornado
in KY. My friends and I had spilit up some where in Tenn. and I felt
somewhat lonely until I got to camp where I felt so "Welcome".
My first morning at camp the mist rose off the bayou in this mystical
way and to my surprize I was not the first one up. Polly was up making
her famous "Love Cookies" and Carol was up making coffee and hot water
for tea.
I spent my first day at camp just catching up and resting up. I helped
out around the camp by cooking. At dinner everyone came back from their
various volunteer jobs and I heard all about the various project the
camp members had going on. There were about 12 to 14 people where at
that time.
On my second day I was determined to find or make a space to do
massage. It was windy so my outdoor idea didn't work, I finally gave up
and moved indoors. I cooked dinner again and cleanning out the kitchen.
The camp stays a buzz with activity no matter how many people stay at
camp for the day and time just flys by. I did a few massages. I was
still tired.
I pretty much stayed tired for the first week then I discovery Ruby's
Natural Foods in Slidell and got some iron.
Day two, I again woke to Polly's "Love Cookies" which is an awesome way
to wake up it brings you back to your childhood but I realized I could
not keep eatting them!
The 3rd day I headed out with Polly and Lisa and we headed to Mama D's
and then to the Love Cafe. We helped as much as we could before it got
too, late because getting over the bridge at rush hour is hard. We got
stuck on 10 for 2 1/2 hours. It took us an hour to get two miles. No
kiddin! But the following week they opened another lane for 10 and that
problem cleared up for the rest of my stay.
All of the young volunteers that I meet down in the Gulf are awesome young people. It's just so interesting that after you are there for a litle bit you can kinda just look at a young person and tell where they work and what group. Mama D's kids have a Rasta vibe. They are doing some awesome work. But the sad fact is there are not enough of them, and many of the locals are suffering post traumatic Stress syndrome. It's a very urban setting in the 7th ward which reminded me of Detroit so I felt right at home there. Some of the things they need at Mama D's are: "EVERYTHING" Mama says... water, water, water... tools work gloves building materials honey tea vegan food soy milk The kids are starting an medicinal herb garden so seeds. But what I see that every group needs are volunteers and alot of them. There are of in-fighting going on in all of the groups I met with and worked with. The whole area is stressed and I really believe they need community organizers downthere helping the various groups deal with conflict resoulution. To be continued...