Finding Hope in the Wake of Devastation
When we came to Bay Saint Louis in the Fall of 2005, it was hard to believe how much the hurricane had wrecked everything. We had previously selected a house to purchase on prior visits, but it had been destroyed, with nothing left but the front steps. We had sold our house in Tennessee and showed up with nothing but hope, and a lot of uncertainty. Everywhere you looked, houses were gone. Locals would say you either had a “slab” or a “shell” left of your home, and that summed it up.
While wandering around, we found this house for sale, so we checked it out. There was a water line eight feet up the wall, seriously, the storm had been brutal. Downstairs was a mess as the appliances, sheetrock, carpet, everything had been removed into a pile at the side of the house. Upstairs was okay, and, best of all, the electricity and plumbing worked. We called the seller right away and, like magic, bought the property the next day and took our suitcases inside. There were no hotels, motels, nowhere to stay you see.
Across the street from us was an apartment building owned by an older man named Maurice. He had an apartment on the top floor. After the storm, he was just as lost and lonely as everyone else. The street was pitch black at night, and hardly anyone had come back yet. It felt dismal.
One day, Maurice asked if we would keep a light on in our window at night. That little bit of light meant a lot to him. In all that darkness, it was a sign that someone else was still around. So, every night, we made sure to turn on that lamp. It was a small thing, but it brought comfort to both Maurice and us, a reminder that we were not completely alone as we all tried to rebuild. I still think of him often and do my best to keep my inner light shining bright. It may make a difference for someone.