Camp Second Helpin’

[ॐLightweightॐ]

My mate and I spent 2 years in Waveland MS. Just after Katrina, I made many close friendships in the General public, Mayors office, Fire department, I stand witness to both the good and bad that can happen to, with and after a large scale disaster. I have seen the joy of grateful mommas and poppas, and blessed with almost daily miracles. Smiles
where there was once sadness, witnessed the Good works as well
as bungling of Babylonian & Rainbow attempts but that’s
not what this BLOG is about. It is about what led me there and
the personal joys and struggles I “Felt” myself. I dedicate
this to “The New Waveland Café, Emergency Communities,
My Dear friend and Brother in arms Steve Morell (Vietnam Era Vet
myself) The Knights of Columbus, NAVY Seabees (for their wonderful
donation of HUGE dining hall and Rec. tents), Norm and Pam Ladd
in Bloomington, The Arkansas Rainbow family (for their donation
of the beautiful Dome tent) All the volunteers who humbly and
without glory grabbing labored so hard and actually worked day
to day. Last but not least Spring, without whom it would never
have happened. Damn baby when you have a dream does it always
have to be a big one?

A very special hello & thanks to: Chink Bob Lee, Zeek, Idiot Bob Savant, Luke (God Bless his soul), and Fuck You Coyote (that’s his name folks). Felipe’, S.C.R.O.L.L. family, Wrongtree, & Steps to Freedom.

Camp Second Helpin’

Late August 2005 hurricane Katrina made landfall on the American Gulf coast. I sat safe and dry in my home in Bloomington Indiana and watched news reports as they came in often as late breaking reports. My mate Spring (AKA Momma KaBoom) glued to the television with horror, her heart breaking all the while, as much was known and even more unknown. In the
days that followed and the limited information was coming out
of the effected areas and request for help, support, and donations
were televised and plastered all over the internet Momma felt
she had to do something and quickly. No one knew as of yet how
slow the actual governments response was going to be. Momma went
onto the internet looking into going and volunteering in the region
to do something, anything, even if she just passed out toothbrushes.
In the weeks that followed she signed up and into volunteer websites
(the American Red Cross, Christian relief programs, etc.) programs
seeking an opportunity to find a place to fit in and help.

Not one reply did she get for actually going down and helping out first hand, although many request for money donations that filled both Momma’s and my email accounts. As September wore on she felt saddened that her help seemed to be not needed. Both Momma and I had been traveling around the USA going to Gatherings Regional and National ones running kitchens
(We will cook anything you bring us Café, Frozen Tunes
Cantina) as well in our 5 years of traveling we fed the homeless
in many cities and smaller towns. Then….. Lo and Behold we
stumbled upon the “New Waveland Café” and discovered
that our dear friend Felipe’ had been there four days after
the storm. We spoke with several of the local family and Momma,
Circus James, and Colors set off with supplies and a vehicle to
donate to the cause (brother James had just bought a new car and
donated his old one to the cause).

They volunteered for several weeks at the “New Waveland Café and during one of her phone calls back home Momma told me of a vision she had that we were needed there in Waveland as a family, our family. I told her yes right away but wrestled with what this implied. I was working on a large website for one of the local companies Home schooling
the children during the day and up all night developing the site.
Here’s the insane part…. I sat before my computer working
away and thinking about what Spring had just asked me to do and
I told myself I just couldn’t do this. To my surprise I heard
an audible voice say “This is what I have prepared you for”
Quickly I looked around the room to see who the heck had gotten
into the house without the dogs barking. I was alone… I shook
my head and dismissed it as to much work and very little sleep
and continued to work away at my computer. Out loud I spoke and
said “I’m too tired to go traipsing off to Mississippi
I have too much work here to do”. Then as before the voice
said, “I have given you a business and work that you can
do no matter where you find yourself”. Now I was spooked,
Someone, something was actually talking with and to me so I replied,
“I can’t take the kids down to a disaster area We’ve
just settled into our new home and they need this stability now
more than ever”. The voice said “I will watch over the
young ones” At this point I said “I just can’t
do this and don’t want to”. The voice grew sterner and
said “ Remember Jonah and the wale”? I threw up my hands
literally and said all right, all right I’ll go!

The next day when I spoke with Spring on the phone I told her I was willing to go back down with her but I had some prerequisites. We had to have some kind of stability for the kids, a Bus or a camper, something to live in, I wouldn’t move them down there to live in a tent. She agreed with me saying yes it was really bad down there I had no idea and pictures didn’t
do the situation justice. I was hoping that my precondition would
trip everything up and I could stay in my comfortable home.

The following day I had several business appointments so I left the children doing their studies with their Grandmother and left for town. While in town I was talking with one of my good friends and client (Norm Ladd), and he said to me. “Find a camper and I’ll help you get it”. I was in shock! When I showed up to volunteer at the food bank I
worked at two days a week, everyone there was behind the project
as well. I started to see things quickly falling into place with
little work. It was as if fate, destiny, “The Spirit”,
was moving to make everything happen right before me like a carpet
unrolling before me as I walked. The next Sunday news of our plans
had come to the attention of the minister at our church. Oh my
God! The church was behind us as well. Within a week we had a
camper, 800 lbs of dried foods, $600 cash, 6 computers, $2,000
personal funds for emergency escape money and an actual date for
us to leave and go join the “New Waveland Café”.

The day was gloomy and overcast in Indiana and an ice storm was working its way into the area. We were in the middle of packing the camper when the rain and ice began, the kids were with their Grandmother and Spring and I were working as hard as we could. The day wore on and we made arrangements with Lynn (Springs mother), to stay the night as we felt behind
schedule. Late evening about 9:30 pm it was dark and ice was covering
the trees and ground. I wondered about how smart it was to attempt
to drive the car and camper to Lynn’s home and suggested
we should put off leaving till morning. Spring would have no part
of it, her vision was just about to manifest and the excitement
was overwhelming for her. We started the vehicles and began the
long assent up and out of the driveway. Something didn’t
feel right the camper slipped and tires spun as we climbed the
hill. I was starting to really get scared as to what the main
roads were going to be right. Spring waited for me at the top
of the hill and as I approached she took a left to go the back
way into Bloomington. I cringed when I saw the direction she turned
but ether way it would be bad I thought, lots of curves, mountainous
road and cliffs before we would get to town. I had just made it
about a half a mile down the road and my first hard turn was coming
up. I saw Spring’s taillights go out of sight and the front
of the camper slid. The camper was out of control. Unless you’ve
ever experienced it I couldn’t begin to tell you all the
thoughts that went through my head. I just knew it was over before
it had begun. At the very last moment the front tires caught traction
and I veered to the left just missing going over a cliff and into
the house below. Truth…. I almost shit. I was still shaken
by the event 20 minutes later when we arrived at Lynn’s home
and told Spring about what had happened.

NEXT: Waveland, New Orleans and how we became a camp

More to come!

[ॐLightweightॐ]

Your very welcome Little bird, I look forward to that day. And Momma I love you that's why I do what I do....

[Momma KaBoom]

As I read this, tears come...I have never known a stronger more pure hearted manas you...Thank you for always helpin' me follow my dreams...

[little byrd]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us~ the other day i received the kindest, sweetest email from mama kaBoom; and she mentioned her blog in it~ i hadn't gotten a chance to read any of it until today, and it was such an amazing and inspiring thing to read about. I also noticed for the 1st time she was from T&C too; and i had a feeling that she must have been your wife :) You guys are both amazing and i'm honored to call you part of my family. Thanks again for sharing this; i look forward to reading more, and please tell mama kaboom to post a blog too with a link to her other one, as i would love to feature it, as well as yours.
i send you both allmy love, and look forward to the day my family gets to share a campfire with yours :)
bless
xoxo