christmas in new orleans

so what's going on in new orleans? I dunno, it's never on the news anymore.

I have started the enormous (to me) undertaking of Christmas cards this year, and wanted to send one to our friends Charles and Rose (you'll have to look thru a little bit to get the whole story, but it's there)whose house we took apart back in March. I remembered how we were going to be on their Christmas card list this year, and I finally was able to find the blue ribbon pin that Rose had sent everyone as YET ANOTHER thank you (because the Po Boys and angels just weren't enough). So I started thinking about it - what's Christmas like this year for them? For New Orleans in general?

I am sure that things are farther along than when we left in terms of rebuilding and such, I know they've had deadlines for mudding out houses and things like that, they've dedicated at least some of the houses in the Musicians' Village this summer w/ Harry Connick Jr and friends, people are moving back in. But I'm doubting that the lower 9th is any better off than it was 9 months ago when I saw it, I'm sure things are not as they were Christmas 2004.

I'd love to take another trip, to help out again - giving money just never seemed like it would be enough, tho at least it's something. I'm thankful for the opportunity that I had to go this spring, I don't think it's a city that should be forgotten until everything is set right, but it's hard to remember it without some personal connection. So I'll be praying for Charles and Rose Scott this Christmas, along with First Baptist church where we stayed and the others that we met in our short time in the Big Easy, hopefully we'll go again sometime soon.

ps. Jodi, I still need the Scotts' address!