Yes, we’re in Mississippi. Again.

Clearly, this Mississippi thing is now a part of me. It’s in my veins. I don’t mean to sound dramatic. But I can’t stay away.

Dave and the girls are along for the ride this time, bless their souls. The girls and I are basically vacationing – which means lots of together time (i.e. lots of crying and sweating and screaming, lots of intense looks at one another)….Dave, on the other hand, is working. I pimped him out because I knew his muscle trumped my heart, though the coast needs both. I gave my heart last trip but I can’t help but think I was more trouble than I was worth – this time I know by giving up my husband there are real projects getting done, and down here it’s pretty easy to feel inconsequential. So Dave goes off to work each morning and the girls and I try not to kill each other for 10+ hours. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

Oh, and we gave donations – that counts, right? We went through our entire storeroom and coughed up 30+ boxes to give to the needy folks in the Delta. It was really cool driving around and watching the look on Gretta’s face as we entered homes the size of her bedroom, and in far worse repair. I have no doubt she’s “getting it”, and my heart aches with pride.

She asks so many questions, and we bought a couple of books and a video on the hurricane. She keeps saying she feels like she’s not doing enough to help people. The other night she said, “I just think about if it were the opposite situation. If people in Wisconsin needed help, and the Mississippi people came to help us.”

(…….)

Yes, I started crying on the spot. And yes, she really says things like “opposite situation.” She’s something else.

I also felt really good because all of the people in the Delta remembered me, and remembered me fondly. It was good to know it wasn’t completely one-sided. We hugged a lot. Bobbie Jackson said I look like Angelina Jolie. I told her I get that all the time.

Tonight is a rough night, though. We’ve been without Dave since 7am (it’s just about 6pm now) and we’re without a car as well, and we’re not sure when he’s coming back. We got a couple of calls warning us that today was a very, very bad day for Dave, and that he feels responsible for a couple of plumbing mishaps. Like I said, it’s easy to feel inconsequential down here and it’s really easy to get frustrated. I hope he knows how proud we are of him, how much we appreciate him, and how much wouldn’t be getting done at all if he weren’t here.

I know the heat doesn’t help. God it’s hot. Mississippi in June. What were we thinking?

I spent two and a half hours diving to the bottom of the hotel pool this afternoon, a search and rescue for the one-inch-tall pet puppy Gretta lost. Eventually, I found it. I just can’t hear a thing.

I realize this post is a bit haphazard. I’m tired, and over-kidded, and under-wined. I know some of you understand this.

Hope all is well in Wisconsin.