JANUARY 21, 2009--Had an interesting class discussion last night in one of my courses. The students read Jack London's account of the "San Francisco Earthquake." London was a reporter covering the aftermath of the quake in 1906 for Collier's magazine. At any rate, a few students grumbled they couldn't relate to the time period, etc or the locale. So I mentioned natural disasters--pointed out what happened in the Gulf States, and suddenly, they got it. . . losing everything, fleeing for your lives or trying to stay because your home and pets mean so much.I hate to use the term relevancy--but it applies here.

Here are three pictures from our last trip to COMMON GROUND in the lower Ninth ward of New Orleans. I asked my son to take the picture--he focused on me getting ready to be interviewed rather than the building. . .sorry! It's a vibrant place--lots of youth and energy and hope. And even from people my age! The second picture is of a home that is one of the few orginal left in this area. it is near the new green homes being built by Pitt; and the third is one of the new green homes constructed in the neighborhood. See the solar panals on the roof? Also it is multi-family structure.

JANUARY 14, 2009--Happy 2009! Our trip South was terrific. We went to COMMON GROUND, delivering the blankets. One and a half years ago, nothing but the Common Ground house existed in this lower ninth ward neighborhood. Everything had been destroyed, removed and all that was left of the neighborhood were sidewalks. Quite an eerie sight to see sidewalks leading to nowhere but memories. When we arrived this time however, the COMMON GROUND house was filled with young, enthusiastic people, music and hope. Across the street a ways were some of the new green homes being built by Brad Pitt. No sightings of him, but the houses are terrific and certainly offer a great deal of inspiration and hope to the neighborhood. I will post some of the pictures later this week--needless to say, this trip reinspires. In fact, we even have a potential international contributor. What a great way to begin the new year!