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Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

I’m leaving New Orleans. Yikes! I loved my stay here but the job is mobile, therefore, so am I!

I’m headed out tomorrow afternoon to a new location called Grand Lake Louisiana. Ever heard of it? Me neither. But, don’t feel bad. Nearly all of the locals I’ved talked to here haven’t EITHER!.. is that scary or what?

I’m sure I’ll be fine and will find some semblance of civilization. While the folks I’ve helped here were hit by Katrina, the folks there in Grand Lake were hit by Rita. I guess it’s near Beaumont Texas and was hit pretty hard.

The picture above was in Louisiana and was only ONE of MANY bizarre images you come across. My time here in New Orleans has been awe inspiring. I can’t even convey to you the degree of damage everywhere you go, but particularly in the Ninth Ward, East New Orleans, and Lakeview. It’s tremendously sad and awful.

But, I’m sure I’ll find new adventures ahead with new people who will be as equally inspiring with their stories. I’m going to be staying in a tent again, at least for a short bit, so maybe my next update will be in a while. But, I’m still reachable by phone! 916-284-6490. Call me and leave a msg. If I can’t pick it up immediately, I’ll pick it up when I can.

I love and miss you all. And, I’m sure we’ll see eachother again, real soon!

IMG_4029
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Hello. I’m going to give you the address of where you can reach me currently. I had a couple of requests for the address:

Christopher Solis, U.S. SBA
C/O Hampton Inn and Suites
1201 Convention Center Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70130

I’m enjoying some time to do my laundry and such. I haven’t really done much today except catch up on phone calls and stuff. The picture above is of a highway outside of New Orleans, headed south towards the Gulf. It’s a large ship in the road. One that was washed in and stayed. There’s quite a few of these around, including one lady that came into the Center as a shrimper. She is still living in hers, even though it’s in someone elses front yard, and upside down.
All has been well. We’re keeping a brisk pace at the Center.

It has not slowed down at all! I’m surprised actually. I went to a meeting last night and what a great move that was. I hadn’t realized how emotionally exhaused I’ve been so it gave me a chance to cry, get over some of myself, and move forward. Isn’t it great that meetings do that for us sometimes?

I met some great folks this weekend. A nice couple who had a church that was for youth in the poorest part of New Orleans. They’d worked for many years to build their church and we had to pause multiple times as we went through their list of things destroyed because they hadn’t really taken the time to think of the little things. They cried about their Organ and musical instruments and all the books and bibles. It was sad and I hope the very best for them.

Some of you mentioned you’d like to send pamphlets and literature for the AA meetings here. I’d be happy to be your Sacramento Ambassador and take those to the Lamda Center where I’m currently going to meetings or to the Central Office, such as it is here in New Orleans. They have some books, but no literature/brochures at all. So, if you’d like to send those, do so soon since I have no clear departure date.

I hope to see you all soon and hope you are all doing well. I’m sure I’ll be home before we all know it and I’ll see you then!

Hey, this is big news
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Hey, this picture is a bigger deal than you might think. Up til now, these shelves were always bare, so it’s nice to see supplies are regular enough now.

There was a woman named Sarah I met with yesterday who was distraught. She just returned from Texas after her sister encouraged her to come home. Her sister didn’t tell her that their parents and brother died in the attic of their home when they were trapped during the flood. It was one of the hardest folks situations I’ve encountered down here, but everyone in the Center seemed very supportive and when I left her there were two agencies working on getting her a place to live. She gave me a big hug when we departed and I felt better, I hope she did too. Everything in the Center has not slowed down. It’s amazing to me that even after all the people we’ve seen (between 200 and 300 a day) each morning brings a longer line around the building and there’s barely even enough time for a lunch break some days.

Our loan application deadline was October 28th but has been extended now til January 11th. I don’t know if that means I’ll be here that long, but at least hopefully folks will come in less stressed about getting the deadline met.

I hope you’re all doing well! I love and miss each of you.

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Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

This car is right next to wear I work, so I pass it everyday. They just moved the billboard off with a crane, so now just the crushed car sits.

I messed up my sleep by taking a nap that went too long, but now I’m up writing. I met some folks today. Including a sad couple who came in. The woman was crying because FEMA won’t give her a trailer to live in or any financial assistance. Most of the folks here have received about 4,300 in aid (cash) and then some are on lists to receive trailers, etc.

I guess you have to have ‘evacuated’ to receive the money. Because she didnt’ evacuate they said she couldn’t have assistance. The reason she didn’t leave was because her husband (he was with her in a wheel chair) was being amputated the day of the hurricane because of his diabetes. She remained with him for the procedure and because the hospital was locked down right after that by the National Guard.. they had to stay in the room, with rationed food and people trying to break in for like 2+ weeks! But, I guess because she didn’t ‘flee’ she doesn’t get assistance.

I’m not sure why some folks seem to get assistance while others are left without. It doesn’t seem fair. But, I may write the congressman of New Orleans myself on this one. I hope she gets some help.

I’m doing alright. I had a day off yesterday, that was great. I did nothing, but I was pretty tired. So, I was giving myself a hard time for not doing tons of things but it was nice to do nothing!

I hope you are all well. I’m doing ok too! See you all soon.

Heather’s Fabulous Parking Job
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Today was busy! But, not as much as yesterday. Before I begin, above is just a random photo of my new friend Heather’s parallel parking. I couldn’t believe how much space she leaves between cars, so I documented here so she could see how much it really was.

I met, as usual, many interesting people today. There was a woman who had had a stroke who I worked with to put together her application. It took her a very long time to remember the smallest details. I tried to be patient, since she reminded me so much of Mom and she just kept apologizing over and over since she couldn’t remember anything.

In the end, I felt so bad, because she’d been sleeping in her car. She’s 60 and has had a stroke, and that just seemed so awful! She told me when she was growing up, and the hurricanes were coming her Mom taught her to prepare for a hurricane by going around the house to all the dressers and pull all the bottom drawers, in case the water got that high.

She said she had lived in the house since 1954 and had marked the dresser with each level of the various hurricanes over the years, Juan, Camille, all of them. This was the first one that ever covered the whole dresser. The poor thing has all her furniture in the front yard. I asked her if she was drying it out, if it was salvagable. She said no. And, I asked her why she was keeping it. She said in case the adjuster wants to see it. I assured her if she took pictures of the damage she could move on with the cleaning.. but her insurance adjuster said he might be able to get to her after Thanksgiving and she’s determined to keep every stitch, in case he wants to see anything.

We saw more people yesterday than any day before. I honestly thought, it would slow down, but it seems like folks just keep coming. I hope everyone gets help soon. I’d rather come home early from lack of work, than see all these crowds every day.

I’m doing well. Eating too much. I hope you all are well!

Crushed Cars after Katrina
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Good morning! I was able to attend an AA meeting last night, so that was great. Unfortunately the topic was primarily the damage and so while it wasn’t very uplifting it was understandable that people were anxious to have a place to talk about what people have been through.

We are eating too well. And the lines for the folks seeking aid doesn’t seem to slow down. Every morning there’s folks lined up around the building waiting to see FEMA and us at SBA as well as the Red Cross, Food Stamps folks and get Unemployment.

I hope you all are well. I undertand my neice Serena (I’m her favorite Tio) is about to lose a tooth! Her first. I wish sometimes I were home for the small things.

Take care!

Signs like these litter the storefronts.
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Signs like these are all over. This one, the patrons were nice enough to leave their well wishes to their favorite dining establishment…

A woman named Mildred came in today. She didn’t qualify for a loan because she only makes $600 a month. She sat quietly as I explained this to her. Her smile never left her face. (I never take such news without at least a scowl). When I wrapped up explaining that I was referring her to FEMA for a grant, because of her low income.. she broke a smile just long enough to inquire if they’d please give her enough money to pay for tree removal. Her large tree, that had been big, even when she was a little girl had fallen on her neighbors home and that’s what she was most worried about. She liked her life-long neighbor and felt bad that her tree had crushed their house. She didn’t know what to do. Her son usually dealt with such things, but he had stayed through the hurricane to guard against looters and died in the flood.

I’m doing well. I have no complaints, I hope all of you are well too! I miss you.

Random Car
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

I had..

a great day today. I met alot of people and they are amazing. Today I met a gentleman who had a linens business and cried when he told me the story of how all his linens are moldy. His roof caved in and asked me if I could come over today and help him tarp his roof. He’s by himself since his family is still in Houston and unfortunately I had a line of folks waiting to see me, I wished I could have helped Kevin, but I referred him to a team of New York Firefighters that were nearby and promised they’d help him get some help.

I also met a really great Greek lady who was very thankful that I spoke very slowly and highlighted the areas for her on all her forms. Her husband is sick and he’s the one who manages her finances and she was terrified to come in because she doesn’t understand their family business. She’s going to try and come back with him when he’s better.

I also met a man who’s tragic story was that he had almost finished his dream home on the gulf. It was going to be his retirement home and he’d saved to pay cash for it, so that it was going to be a mortgage free retirement. Unfortunately because he hadn’t moved into it yet, it’s considered a second home and there’s no relief offered for him. He cried too. Has construction insurance but only up to $100k but his home was much more than that.. It’s a shame.

Hope you are all well. This picture of a random vehicle are like many on the streets. Just sitting, windows busted out and tires flat.

Manny and Heather.. the SBA Twins
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Ok, so we got in trouble for taking pictures in the center.. but do you see any patrons? We’re just trying to show our friends and family back home where we work!

Here’s Wake-Me-Before-Work-Manny and Nice-Parking-Job-Heather. We’re just hanging in the last few minutes of work, literally the ONLY slow time to pause for.. pictures.

I hope you are all well. I am!