It seems to me that the poor are perhaps a little poorer in Louisiana then they are in the places up north where I have previously resided. People who get social security disability receive only just over $6oo a month. Cash assistance (welfare) for four children totals $284 for the month; I naively asked a worker if that was per child. I know for a fact that rent has increased dramatically post Katrina. Based mostly on logic and anecdotal evidence it seems the cost of living in general has increased too. Prior to Katrina I think the cost of living was probably lower here than in a lot of other places. This, is no longer true, yet benefits which are decided on a state by state basis even though they are essentially federal programs (like welfare and social security) seem to pay less here. At a meeting recently, someone from a legal aide agency (which assists the poor with legal problems) stated that it takes longer in Louisiana for people to be processed for social security disability benefits than it does in most other places and that more people are denied; they also receive less. I have heard women say that they do not bother to try to get welfare benefits because it is so little money for all the requirements. I am hopeful that the federal minimum was will increase, but doubtful that it will be high enough to really enable people to support themselves and their families.
I had a busy few days at work. This week as much as the bureaucracy and injustices frustrated me, the resilience, generosity and gratefulness of people who have so little amazed me.
After Mardi Gras things really did quiet down a bit in New Orleans. The green, purples and gold decorations, (which had replaced red and green Christmas decorations) came down. It is lent. But, to me, it feels like summer today!
Have a good week.
Love, Kathleen
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Mardi Gras
Happy Mardi Gras!
I am late updating the blog because since Friday evening until this afternoon, I have been spending most of my time uptown by the parade route.
In Philadelphia, people call today, the day prior to Ash Wednesday, Donut Day and someone will typically bring donuts to work.
The Irish call today Strove Tuesday and eat pancakes.
Well, while I deeply respect the cultures of my community and my family, neither tradition compares with Mardi Gras as it is celebrated in New Orleans. Prior to coming here, I had a vague and inaccurate image of the holiday (I actually did not even think of it as a holiday.) It is so much of a holiday that my office was closed today and everyone also had the choice of taking either Monday (Lindi Gras) or Ash Wednesday off as well (since we were not at work nobody could bring in donuts, but not to worry we have been eating king cake for a month at work, and someone brought delicious donuts to the parades this morning.)
My previous inaccurate image of Mardi Gras was of a crowd of drunk people wearing beads. In reality, It is an experience which one must have to understand. It felt to me like a giant family party that the entire city celebrated together which lasted days. Most of the time is spent sitting outside waiting for the parades while meeting people, eating, cooking outdoors, laughing, catching up with others, walking up and down St. Charles Ave, and watching children play. It is a peaceful and happy occasion.
Many locals, especially the sisters here, have pointed out that much of the publicity for Mardi Gras, for example what is typically shown on the national new, shows the French Quarter. There are no parades in the French Quarter and most of the people there are tourists, who tend to get drunk and act crazy. The real celebrations however, are the parades which are truly family events.
A week ago there were tornadoes which touched down in parts of the city. I was fortunate not to be in an area directly effected. There was some serious devastation in neighborhoods which are in the process still of rebuilding from Katrina. My initial reaction to this was a sense of discouragement. A week after tornadoes people are celebrating Mardi Gras. This may have seemed strange to me before, but I am realizing more and more that while we should not deny the pain of such events, we also need to celebrate whatever we have that is worth celebrating and there is always something to celebrate. I believe that healing happens when people come together to be together, and Mardi Gras seems to be that for the city of New Orleans.
I am late updating the blog because since Friday evening until this afternoon, I have been spending most of my time uptown by the parade route.
In Philadelphia, people call today, the day prior to Ash Wednesday, Donut Day and someone will typically bring donuts to work.
The Irish call today Strove Tuesday and eat pancakes.
Well, while I deeply respect the cultures of my community and my family, neither tradition compares with Mardi Gras as it is celebrated in New Orleans. Prior to coming here, I had a vague and inaccurate image of the holiday (I actually did not even think of it as a holiday.) It is so much of a holiday that my office was closed today and everyone also had the choice of taking either Monday (Lindi Gras) or Ash Wednesday off as well (since we were not at work nobody could bring in donuts, but not to worry we have been eating king cake for a month at work, and someone brought delicious donuts to the parades this morning.)
My previous inaccurate image of Mardi Gras was of a crowd of drunk people wearing beads. In reality, It is an experience which one must have to understand. It felt to me like a giant family party that the entire city celebrated together which lasted days. Most of the time is spent sitting outside waiting for the parades while meeting people, eating, cooking outdoors, laughing, catching up with others, walking up and down St. Charles Ave, and watching children play. It is a peaceful and happy occasion.
Many locals, especially the sisters here, have pointed out that much of the publicity for Mardi Gras, for example what is typically shown on the national new, shows the French Quarter. There are no parades in the French Quarter and most of the people there are tourists, who tend to get drunk and act crazy. The real celebrations however, are the parades which are truly family events.
A week ago there were tornadoes which touched down in parts of the city. I was fortunate not to be in an area directly effected. There was some serious devastation in neighborhoods which are in the process still of rebuilding from Katrina. My initial reaction to this was a sense of discouragement. A week after tornadoes people are celebrating Mardi Gras. This may have seemed strange to me before, but I am realizing more and more that while we should not deny the pain of such events, we also need to celebrate whatever we have that is worth celebrating and there is always something to celebrate. I believe that healing happens when people come together to be together, and Mardi Gras seems to be that for the city of New Orleans.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Celebrations of Life
So much has gone on since my last update.
On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, at work we participated in the point in time survey, where we along with many other agencies and volunteers attempted to count the number of homeless and "precariously housed" persons in the city of New Orleans and nearby Jefferson Parish. This was an interesting experience. I do not yet know the results of the survey and suspect that it is far from accurate, however from the people I interviewed it is clear that there are many unmet needs. People are lacking housing, health care, food and opportunities.
On Thursday of that week, my paternal grandfather passed away. For the past few years, I have been acutely aware at times of my unusual fortune of having all four of my grandparents at my age. So many people do not ever get the opportunities to meet grandparents; I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world for having them. Papa Sean and Nana Nealon moved into my parents home when I was ten years old and lived with them until October when due to illness and decline they needed increased care and moved into a nursing home. I have so many fond memories of them. I recall, when they first lived with us, how every night my two sisters and I, would knock on the door to their section of the house to say goodnight before we went to bed.
On Friday morning I flew to Rhode Island. The wake was that evening. How bittersweet, to see so many relatives and family friends I had not seen is so long while at the same time considering that I would never again see my grandfather alive.
On Saturday morning we had the funeral. The liturgy was well done. I think Papa Sean would have enjoyed it. After the cemetery, everyone was invited back to my parents home.
There was a bit of a lull after most people left Saturday afternoon, before other people (and some of the same people) began arriving that evening for the surprise 80th birthday party of my other grandfather. It was truly a day of celebrating life.
Sunday was spent at my parents' home with relatives. I enjoyed seeing my cousin's children.
On Monday, my mother's parents returned to Florida and Nana Nealon went back to the nursing home. Although it was hard to leave her there, it was helpful for me to see where she is now living. There are two recliners in the room that were facing each other, one now empty, was my grandfather's.
On Tuesday, I drove to Philadelphia, in a car my family is lending my community to save us the expense or renting one. I stopped by my community's provincilate for a brief visit. It was wonderful to see some members of my community. Mary, a lay associate, became my faithful travel companion for the rest of the journey. We made it as far as northern Virginia on Tuesday evening when falling snow encouraged an early stop over.
From quarter of seven Wednesday morning (eastern time) until nearly ten pm (central time) we traveled from winter, through spring, in between mountains and through valleys, arriving in flat New Orleans.
On Thursday afternoon, Anne Marie (our provincal) and Ellen (formation director), arrived at the New Orleans airport to visit. I toured them around showing them the some of the still devastated areas.
On Friday morning I dropped Mary off at the airport for her flight back to Philly. Ellen and Anne Marie came to see where I work at Unity and St. Jude Community Center. We had lunch in the French Quarter. Friday night we went with some of the Marianites, as well as a couple of sisters from other communities who are also in the area to volunteer, to a Mardi Gras parade. It was great fun. I imagined that parade goers would be fortunate to catch one or two items thrown from the floats; we caught hundreds of them! I took some pictures I had hoped to post here, but when we were leaving the parade I could not find my camera even after a thorough search of the neutral ground (grassy median where one stands for parades.) The parade is something pictures can not accurately capture anyway, it is an experience; in its unique way, it too is a celebration of life.
I am grateful to so many of you for your prayerful support at this time. The loss of my grandfather reminds me of the importance of relationship and increases my appreciation for all of the people I am fortunate to know.
Have a good week.
On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, at work we participated in the point in time survey, where we along with many other agencies and volunteers attempted to count the number of homeless and "precariously housed" persons in the city of New Orleans and nearby Jefferson Parish. This was an interesting experience. I do not yet know the results of the survey and suspect that it is far from accurate, however from the people I interviewed it is clear that there are many unmet needs. People are lacking housing, health care, food and opportunities.
On Thursday of that week, my paternal grandfather passed away. For the past few years, I have been acutely aware at times of my unusual fortune of having all four of my grandparents at my age. So many people do not ever get the opportunities to meet grandparents; I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world for having them. Papa Sean and Nana Nealon moved into my parents home when I was ten years old and lived with them until October when due to illness and decline they needed increased care and moved into a nursing home. I have so many fond memories of them. I recall, when they first lived with us, how every night my two sisters and I, would knock on the door to their section of the house to say goodnight before we went to bed.
On Friday morning I flew to Rhode Island. The wake was that evening. How bittersweet, to see so many relatives and family friends I had not seen is so long while at the same time considering that I would never again see my grandfather alive.
On Saturday morning we had the funeral. The liturgy was well done. I think Papa Sean would have enjoyed it. After the cemetery, everyone was invited back to my parents home.
There was a bit of a lull after most people left Saturday afternoon, before other people (and some of the same people) began arriving that evening for the surprise 80th birthday party of my other grandfather. It was truly a day of celebrating life.
Sunday was spent at my parents' home with relatives. I enjoyed seeing my cousin's children.
On Monday, my mother's parents returned to Florida and Nana Nealon went back to the nursing home. Although it was hard to leave her there, it was helpful for me to see where she is now living. There are two recliners in the room that were facing each other, one now empty, was my grandfather's.
On Tuesday, I drove to Philadelphia, in a car my family is lending my community to save us the expense or renting one. I stopped by my community's provincilate for a brief visit. It was wonderful to see some members of my community. Mary, a lay associate, became my faithful travel companion for the rest of the journey. We made it as far as northern Virginia on Tuesday evening when falling snow encouraged an early stop over.
From quarter of seven Wednesday morning (eastern time) until nearly ten pm (central time) we traveled from winter, through spring, in between mountains and through valleys, arriving in flat New Orleans.
On Thursday afternoon, Anne Marie (our provincal) and Ellen (formation director), arrived at the New Orleans airport to visit. I toured them around showing them the some of the still devastated areas.
On Friday morning I dropped Mary off at the airport for her flight back to Philly. Ellen and Anne Marie came to see where I work at Unity and St. Jude Community Center. We had lunch in the French Quarter. Friday night we went with some of the Marianites, as well as a couple of sisters from other communities who are also in the area to volunteer, to a Mardi Gras parade. It was great fun. I imagined that parade goers would be fortunate to catch one or two items thrown from the floats; we caught hundreds of them! I took some pictures I had hoped to post here, but when we were leaving the parade I could not find my camera even after a thorough search of the neutral ground (grassy median where one stands for parades.) The parade is something pictures can not accurately capture anyway, it is an experience; in its unique way, it too is a celebration of life.
I am grateful to so many of you for your prayerful support at this time. The loss of my grandfather reminds me of the importance of relationship and increases my appreciation for all of the people I am fortunate to know.
Have a good week.
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