Eight States, Multiple Climates

I took the ice photo near St. Louis, Missouri, where we encountered trees and field stubble covered in brightly shining silver, flashing in the sunshine. Finally, just south of Memphis, TN, the snow disappeared and we saw green grass and leafy magnolia trees along the highway.

As we traveled through Mississippi, about 80 miles north of New Orleans, we spotted a cluster of house tailers in a field. And then more trailers, and then acres of closely packed, dark, empty white trailers. They looked like FEMA trailers that have either not been delivered or have gone unused. It seemed eery to see them all seemingly abandoned there, when the need for these mobile homes has been so great. Our first glimpse of Katrina's effects, and then it was dusk and the countryside blurred into darkness.

We are staying out in Pearl River in a small inn, north of Slidell, and head into New Orleans to the school tomorrow. We are tired after hours on the road, but grateful to be here. -Anne