Howdy y'all. I've just tried to contact the New York Times and Wall St. Journal to see if they'll run a story about the Delta Queen. Wan't it impressive that so many of the river towns have already done stories in their newspapers on this exemption for the Delta Queen. WOW!!
Well, it will be two years since Katrina made its ugly mark on our nation. Remember how we all pitched in to help find ways to keep the Queen series up and running--doing anything!! Rerouting became the necessary thing to keep these boats rolling. Sadly, some of the New Orleans, LA, boats have had to find other homes, but, they did find homes that will take care of them. So many lives, so many stories, so much has happened these past two years. I credit the spirit and drive those folks have as they love the city they grew up in, worked in, shared families with. Not only should we pause to take a moment to think of those in New Orleans, LA, but also remember those along the Gulf Coast struggling to make lives whole again. Some wondering why it seems their government has abandoned them. I pray and hope the best for all our friends affected by Katrina.
I remember that Sunday when Katrina was to hit. As a child I had been through Hurricanes Camille, still have those seashells, and later Cecelia. You don't mess with Hurricanes. I emailed any steamboat/riverboat company I could think of to keep safe and if they needed anything to email or call, not knowing about any levees breaking. I only knew about the ravage beast called Hurricanes. I was just starting in this business but already I felt with friends, with a family.
The Mississipi Queen passed by our town at 7:00am in the morning--never had seen her in person before and that was one of the best sights I'd seen in a long time. I followed her in my cargo van, from being up doing some lawns, and Tooted, toot, toot as she passed by with folks probably still asleep on board. When she headed back up to Cincinnati, Oh, after the storm, she TOOT, Tooted back as she passed our downtown city, soon after the levees broke. It was Monday, the day of horror to start, not the actual storm. One of our news stations taped it and played it back for us to view and hear. It was chilling. Exciting to hear she was okay, but chilling to not know the future. Prayerful. And, then, each of us pitched in to see ideas that the Queen series could use to keep afloat.
Yep, we're back, again, to help the Delta Queen. But, don't you do that any and each time for your dear friends, anyway. It is two years since Katrina, but the Delta Queen needs us again. Stand up, be counted, and think outside the box, again. You are needed, each one of us. We all count. Anywhere you are in the country, or internationally. Your voice, your help, and your love for the Delta Queen is needed. Be counted to help a friend in need. And, remember the folks in New Orleans, LA. We do know what it means to miss New Orleans. Our prayers to you.
Thanks, Mary K. Hukill, Evansville, Indiana, 812-484-8692
