A completely unique experience – again!

This past October was my second time volunteering with One Brick in New Orleans and it was a completely unique experience – again. Some things were the same, staying in the same house, some of the same people I met in May came back, and some of the same places were visited (though there is no way anyone can say that anything stays the same in NOLA, it’s forever moving and changing).

The first day was already an adventure. I'd already survived a watery coffee, ordered the one thing the restaurant is out of & am made up for it all with a spicy bloody mary with live music in the French Quarter.  Ah yeah. The rest of the week was filled with working on the houses, food, music, food, checking out the interesting shops while trying to dodge the rain, more food and I think there was some sleep in there.

The house I worked on in May 2015 is done. 

The homeowner, Ms. Dorothy, is a hard working mother who was also taking care of her very sick husband. Unfortunately, he passed away last month and our deepest sympathies go out to the family.

In good news Ms. Dorothy has started to move back into her home. When I met Ms. Dorothy I was touched and inspired by her story. She has such a love for New Orleans that it never even crossed her mind to leave. She has done everything that she could to keep her home and roots intact and I am incredibly proud to have been able to help.

When we were installing the drywall, we wrote our wishes hopes and dreams for Ms. Dorothy on the bare walls. Her positivity, enduring spirit and strength made our sweat more than rewarding. 

I am filled with selfish pride with the small part I got to play in helping rebuild her home.

Working with the St. Bernard Project was the same in the fact that we met fantastic people, bonded over caulk jokes and lunch breaks, shared the experiences of the homeowners that survived Katrina. The spirit of New Orleans permeates the air, infuses the food, floats on the musical notes of the live music that is everywhere, and sinks into your skin. It’s in incredible place, worthy of receiving all the love and support that it gives with no limit. I look forward to the day that there are no more Katrina houses to rebuild, no more displaced families on the waiting list, and only the future shining as bright as the smile of the people who live there.

Suzanne