jakorte's blog

Then something bad happened.

My friend Jan’s son, a roofer, fell off a roof he was working on. He only damaged one ankle – which was a real blessing considering what could have been. However, that meant he and Jan were no longer going to New Orleans. If I were going to make this trip, I would be completely on my own. At that point, I figured why not? I’d already been doing everything alone for a year, anyway.

So, I actually went ahead and made that trip, along with 48 other volunteers from all over Michigan. I didn’t know anyone else, and I was looking forward to being with a group of people who knew nothing about me. I was running away from the past year, hoping to help heal New Orleans, and perhaps heal a little part of me, as well.

It wasn’t long before I started to share my story with these awesome caring people. For nine days, I was constantly surrounded by love and concern. Not pity. Not “it’s time to stop talking about the past, and get on with your life." Not “When are you going to stop wearing your wedding ring?" I cried when I had to, and they let me.

jak