But there was more to today than just food and jazz. I titled this post "A Flashback" because as we drove around the city, memories from last year's trip came flooding back (no insensitive pun intended). There is definitely evidence of what our Habitat coordinator deemed "sterilization"--i.e. a lot of the mess is gone. Even from what things looked like last year, it looks as if there have been drastic improvements in clean-up and renovation as well as new building (i.e. if you call new casinos an improvement). However, though part of the mess is gone, there is still much work to be done. At our parking place in New Orleans, where last year there was a missing wall to a building, punctuated somewhat humorously by a toilet sitting out on a ledge, now there was a new brick wall enclosing the side of the building. We traveled through the Musician's Village where we worked on our Habitat project last year, finding newly-paved streets where there had been only dirt paths, and painted houses where there were just walls and roofs still in process a year ago (still without residents, however). On our way back to Camp Victor, we dropped in on the Lower 9th Ward once again. Last year we read about "Brangelina's" Pink Project and saw all the temporary structures and design plans, but this year, there was evidence of that plan being carried out with several completed houses present.
It is great to see that improvements are being made. Progress is definitely happening. However, because "sterilization" is taking place, things are starting to look much better than they actually are, and three years after Hurricane Katrina hit, there has been a slowing of the steady stream of volunteers. But I am definitely grateful to be here once again--a meaningful use of my Christmas break--hanging out with a couple of my best friends, working alongside people in need, and being a part of making just a little more progress.
-John Mark Stratford
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