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Professor Piper Special user Somewhere, out there... 770 Posts |
Hey gang...
Long time no 'read'. I thought I would drop in and share a few things with all of you...Things I've experienced over the last three weeks while in The Gulf region of the south... Specifically Gulfport, Mississippi.... Me and a buddy of mine went down about 20 days ago to help with the rebuilding effort...We are both decent carpenters and know how to hang dry-wall...We both can roof and also build fences, so we figured we'd be able to find work. Little did we know... GEEZ LOUIS! The media coverage of the destruction does little to impart just how devestated the area truly is...Gulfport, Long Beach, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Bilioxi...The list just goes on and on of towns/cities/and areas of our country that will NEVER be the same. 200+ year old Sprawling Oaks, trees planted by some of the first Settlers of that region, gone...Mile upon mile of beach vanished... Then you get to the houses....Homes that have stood on the Gulf shore for a century or better, swept away...Hotels and restaurants, homes, schools, Churchs....Wiped from the face of the planet. When you can actually take a breath and begin to comprehend the devestation, then you meet the people...And I must say that, through all of my travels across this great country, I have NEVER met a more resilient, passionate, or resolute group of citizens than I did while on the Coast. Even though everything that they have taken as 'normal' is now gone, they still strive to live a normal life...They work tirelessly to put their homes back in order... This is not an easy task, seeing as everywhere you go you find evidence of the horror that struck them 3 months ago....FEMA trailers parked in folks front yards (They have to live in the plain-white trailers until their houses can be fixed); downed trees EVERYWHERE; the 'blue tarp roofs' as far as the eye can see; and of course, "Katrina Krud"--this is a persistant cough that afflicts a large portion of the population of the region...Caused most likely by a combination of the mold that is everywhere and the amount garbage and refuse that is STILL stacked up everywhere you turn. It's so hard for those poor folks...To have to live with such a powerful reminder everyday...And yet they keep on smiling....Saying things like, "It could have been worse...We could have lost someone like the SuchandSuch family did down the street..."...Then when you talk to the SuchandSuches, they'll tell you that they are blessed they still have the family they have left... Simply amazing people....We all could learn something from them, I know I have. We took only one day off while down there this trip...We drove over to New Orleans on a mission...To meet Harry Anderson. We succeeded!! As you can tell from my really crappy picture Avatar...(Anyone good with PhotoShop that could help clear that up for me?) Harry, his wife Elizabeth, and their shop were AMAZING...All the artifacts, posters, and such...Simply blew me away...Then I got to meet the man himself, when he took time out of his busy day (He's busy because "Oswalds" IS open again) to come down and dedicate the copy of "Wise Guy" I bought... What an incredible trip... We're going back down after the first to pick up where we left off...There's tons of work down there and more help is needed...If you have skills/tools/or simply the need to help, look into it.... It will make you feel like a billion bucks...Trust me, I was hugged a total of 6 times by complete strangers when they found out I was down helping rebuild. Best feeling in the world. Happy New Year to you all...And remember everyday to keep a good thought for our neighbors in the Gulf who are still struggling, even though they aren't on CNN anymore. God Bless, Terry L. Tidwell (Prof. Piper)
"Nemo has been found! He was on an Admiral's Platter at Red Lobster!"
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Acecardician Inner circle New Orleans 1390 Posts |
Subject: Katrina Victims
The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund has made provisions to assist magicians who are victims of the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and in Florida. To date eight people have received funds to help them get a new start. Many victims have still not been able to get to their old homes to access damage. Some magicians have lost their livelihoods and props. All assistance needs are confidential and are evaluated by the special trustees and payments are immediate. To receive aid, victims do not need to be members of the S.A.M. - There is more to be done. donations to the Red Cross and other agencies do not necessarily reach our magicians directly,- Send donations to S.A.M. Magic Endowment Fund- 234 Towyn Court- Ambler PA 19002- All donations are tax deductible.
My Chinese Stick Collection: https://app.photobucket.com/u/ChineseSticks?sort=6
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » Aftermath of Katrina and Harry Anderson..... (0 Likes) |
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