More of the Peace Gathering with pics

Continued:

 After the sweatlodge we all went and ate dinner.  After dinner I sat up by the fire for a while but I couldn’t stop thinking about my son and our situation.  I was getting upset again so I decided to go to bed.  I walked down to my tent and on the way I met up with Willow, Al and GL.  I was crying  by then and I told them that I was going to pack it in and go home the next day.  I spoke with them for a while and I decided to sleep on it and I did.  I was asked at breakfast the next morning if I would help with the fire again and by then I had decided to stay.  I agreed but I had signed up to help with dinner prep at 4.  It was going to be a busy day!

I met at the sweatlodge and we constructed the fire.  I stayed until 4 even while the sweatlodge was in place.  It was nice to stay outside and take care of the fire while they were inside.

I had dinner with Betsy and Fred, sat by the fire then called it a night because it was a bit chilly and I was freezing lol

Thursday was pretty much a free day.  I helped with the fire again in the morning then I kept to myself most of the day.  I decided to go on the nature walk and one of the New Orleans people were there so it was going to be just us three.  Ava was the wife of one of the pastors and the mother of 3 children.  She told me she was happy I decided to walk with her.  The leader was "interesting" lol.  As we started to walk 3 kids arrived to go for the nature walk as well.  They were about 10 and cute.  The "leader" took the kids and kind of ignored Ava and myself.  We lagged behind and talked.  She was really into the kids and the information she was relaying was so redundant!  I took a few flower pictures while trying to get the "leader" to include Ava.   No deal.

good ol’ field clover……very purple!

Queen Ann’s Lace….when I was a child, this was my favorite flower.  I remember thinking how "lacey" they looked!

Black Eyed Susan…..

After taking the pics I turned to Ava and asked her if she wanted to go for a drive.  She readily said YES.

We went to my truck and away we went.  We talked a lot and she told me she was 40 yrs. old and she was saved by the flood waters but she helps other families.  I told her that I was so disappointed in our government for not taking charge and helping the people in Ward 7 & 9.

She also told me that Fema was taking their trailers back and the people in them have no place to go.  I think they are taking them back because they are releasing toxic fumes and fema is worried about law suits.  UNBELIVABLE!!

We got back in time for dinner so we sat around until the dinner bell rang.  After dinner I needed a shower but let me tell you!,  I was NOT going to take a COLD shower that was provided.  Someone told me about this campground down the road that would let us take a shower for 2 dollars….I packed my things, told Betsy (who came with me) and off I went.  When we got to the campground the office was closed.  I looked inside and the woman came to the door because I put on the saddest face I could conjur up LOL.  I told her I really really really needed a shower so she said, " ok, but I am not going to charge you because the register is closed, go ahead but don’t tell anyone."  LOL OK.

We drove up, took our showers and oh was it nice…so warm and NICE CLEAN WATER…YEAH.

We got back and went to sleep….another nice day.

Friday morning I was asked if I wanted to help with a double sweatlodge and I said yes….I love it down there.  I spent most of the day there.  Coby and the others wanted to do the sweatlodge and asked me if I would stay outside and take care of the fire by myself.  I agreed.

It felt so nice to be there by myself and tend the fire while everyone was inside.  I could hear them sing and talk but I didn’t want to listen so I could be in my own space and not theirs.  When they came out to go in the pond, it was SO SWEET, I cried as I watched them enter the pond all wet from sweat and drained from releasing emotions.  I helped one lady down to the water’s edge but said nothing to her…just brought her down there and went back and stood behind a tree, watching…beautiful.

I left at 4 and helped out with dinner and talked with some of the New Orleans folks and some of the kids too.  I loved the people!

We ate dinner and went up to the fire for music and talk….nice night.  Oh yeah, before we went to bed the St. John’s choir sang…they were really kool…it was so nice to listen to gospel music….after we went to the fire.

St. John’s Gospel Choir…the kids in front were so cute.

<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;”>We also did some drumming with Fred that night too….(it’s all coming back to me now lol)

We drummed for about two hours….so much fun…Fred is really good and really good as an instructor!

Fred Drumming….so kool

After the fire we retired about 12am….I fell asleep right away.

Satuday morning we found out that Paul Winter was coming to give a concert.  I have several of his CD’s and he is so adept at playing as a response to nature sounds.  I was really excited to hear him play!

This is Paul Winter…..GREAT MUSICIAN….International Status.

To be continued…….