Hey ya'll,
Daisy & Percy are back in the saddle again.
We left our humble abode in our most modest mobile home on Monday, the 20th
in the pouring rain (only of course, because departure time plummeted from a prompt yet leisurely 11AM to a ridiculously tardy 7:30P. Whoops.) Stopped over in Indio, CA where we met a delightful young man who gave me my very first lesson in
backing up the RV while having the auto in tow. Man was that helpful and quite frankly, long over due! After stops in Tucson, Arizona and Ozona, Texas I FINALLY made it to Covington, Louisiana on Friday morning at 3AM.

Not before, however, a marvelous stop at my newly discovered, most favorite, on the road treat...
Cracker Barrel. How has The Barrel managed to woo me with such ferver you ask, where to start is my reply. First and foremost, those darn tootin tasty homemade biscuit of theirs!!! Yu-u-uuuummmmmm! With honey.... stop it! Also on their list of decadent deliciousness, the hashbrown casserole and light and crispy fried okra. My heart beats fast, just thinking about it! It would probably be more appropriate to say that their vittles are heart-STOPPING good. While one's relishing in their caloric bliss, a moment should be taken to enjoy the down home charm of the Cracker Barrel's decor
complete with 80 bazillion rocking chairs (available for purchase). Just when you're sure you've been as naughty as you can, there's the country store filled with gifts and knick knacks, something of which always finds its way to one of my seven nieces and nephhews AND the candy store which most definately finds its way to my tummy and the kids' parents.

I'd like to reiterate at this time how much I love RV life! The open road, the fine folk one meets on the way... There's just nuthin' like it!

But since time is ticking and I'm finding that there truly aren't enough hours in the day.
Let me update on SEND-A-HUG's status.

Well, I loved delivering hugs sooooo very much that my non-profit application is pending and I have an attorney and a business planner on retainer. Can't be much more official than that. Have also made up a logo and look forward to the unveil with ya'll.

I think the question that everyone tends to ask me, is are things much better now, over here and all I can say is
see for yourself. I can't begin to imagine how many years it'll take just to clean up, much less rebuild. We drove by some of the areas where we shot devastation footage and not one thing had changed. Even the same stray shoes were still lying in the street. It's utterly unreal. Shamus, my camera man, a local who also lost his home, is floored by the abandoned neighborhoods, "before, on any given day, you'd drive by in these neighbors and it would be packed. Kids playin the street, cars, parked up and down, neighbors visiting. I've lived here all my life and I've NEVER seen anything like it." Even more than the pummeled houses, it was the complete lack of life on the streets the blew his mind. On our way to deliver hugs, I HAD to pullover and use nature's restroom if you get my drift. We were stuck in traffic on a bridge for 2 hours (all because they were repainting the lines, all part of the small town charm package.
Anyway, being a good little camper, I answered the call of nature. I came off the exit and this is what I found.


















Must get ready for my next delivery, but had to share with you a few of my latest huggees...


Catfish here is a wonderful man who was lookin for hug in dog form -- he lost his in the hurricane. All day long he kept walking by my little hug station, taking a quick glance and continuin on. Each time he'd slow down just a little bit more to get a handle of the activity taking place. Finally, he asked if I had a HUG that look like a lab. cause that was the one of his dogs that he missed most of all. "When they came to evacuate me, they didn't have room for my dogs. And I guess when they just couldn't make it back. I sure miss my dogs."
Mr. Catfish just about broke my heart and although I didn't have a dog with me at the time, I promised him I'd be back tomorrow with a dog especially for him. And you can bet your... there's hugged dog in my car right now, just jonesin' to keep Catfish company.

This is Abby, what she lacked in words she sure made up in smiles!





This is Abby's older sister, Alexis Their home didn't make it and the two of them along with their folks and little brother Donnie and the baby are staying with their Aunt. Alexis is a down right delightful gal, and I have a sinking suspicion we'll be keeping in touch.

Glad to be back and hugging and up and typing and sharing and doing and being and thanking and any minute now,
sleeping.

Everyone, please enjoy the new SEND-A-HUG website...

www.send-a-hug.net

that may not be offically up, but still worth a look, I think the loading page is awfully darn cute!!