Sail on silver girl, Sail on by,
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine

Simon and Garfunkel

About two weeks ago, my friend Cindy, who is also the editor of phenomeNEWS, and I decided to go to Cancun, Mexico, for a week of much needed R and R.

In Mexico, we checked out the colorful sights and sounds that this country has to offer. One bright sunny day, we took a boat ride through the jungles of Mexico and even drove the little boat through areas of some thickly-rooted trees. A huge white crane nodded as we sailed by. We flowed in and out of the waves of other passing boats.

From the huge window in the room, we could see the pool as well as the ocean. We opened up the window in the room to listen to the ocean and all of nature outside. Later, we went down by the water and took a walk in the warm sand, enjoying the peacefulness of the day. We found the perfect spot under a straw cabana. I walked along the ocean with its rolling waves and reached down to collect some small seashells that had beckoned me to pick them up.

After dinner that night, I noticed how strong the winds were blowing. The palm trees were almost bending over and things were flying around on the ground. The ocean roared loudly and the waves crashed upon the rocks. The wind was blowing so hard that it looked like a hurricane kinda wind. I watched this act of nature for awhile then closed the window and turned on the TV. A special alert was being broadcast: Louisiana residents were being told to evacuate because of the high winds of hurricane Katrina along the gulf. I immediately thought of my friend in Louisiana, Cajun Pam. I had visited her almost two years ago and spent time with her, John and her friends from Neon Salon. We initially met on the internet. Our connection began because of a lighthouse poem she had written that I had complimented her on. She told me that we are all lighthouses for God, shining our lights brightly. That night, I stayed up late following the news reports.

The next morning, the newspaper headlines announced, “Louisiana residents told to pack up and get out.” The mayor of New Orleans warned, “Ladies and gentlemen this is not a test. This is the real deal. Board up your homes; make sure you have enough medicine and make sure the car has enough gas. Do all the things you normally do for a hurricane but treat this one differently because it is pointed towards New Orleans.” I couldn’t keep my mind off all the people in New Orleans. TV stations kept showing reports of the massive flooding and updates of the people and little children stranded on rooftops and cars. The headlines the day after Katrina hit were, “DEVASTATED, New Orleans, Bourbon St. survives with luck and prayer. The French Quarter was damaged by Katrina but not destroyed.”

The cellphone wouldn’t work where I was in Mexico. I couldn’t get through to my friend, Cajun Pam. I was anxious to find out about her. When we returned to Michigan, I called Pam on her cellphone. She was in Conyers, Georgia. She told me she alerted Carol who was working at the salon and told her to close up shop; they needed to leave immediately because the fury of the hurricane was rapidly heading right in their direction. They packed what they could and headed for safety. She told me that people were going in all directions heading out of town. So many people were stranded. One 17-year-old young man found a school bus with keys still in the ignition and headed out of town gathering people on his way out. He had never driven a bus before but he wanted to help get people to safety. He saved the lives of 85 people that day.

When you’re down and out,
When you’re on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I’ll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.

Pam told me that she and the rest of her group had left Louisiana with only the clothes on their backs. She heard that her house had been flattened. “It’s all gone. I have to be OK with it and go on,” she said. Pam told me her son, Roland, was still in New Orleans and wouldn’t leave his house. It wasn’t damaged much. It just had no running water or electricity. Roland told her that marshall law is in effect there. They were all bartering for different things. Roland bartered red beans, rice and a hunk of cheese for the use of a generator. Roland rescued many animals and kept them alive by feeding them whatever he could find.

Pam’s little dog Popeye had been gone since the beginning of the hurricane and floods. She was worried about him. Popeye had belonged to John, her husband who had just passed away two months before (see my July 2005 article). She told me that if she found him, she would give him a bath and would look into his eyes and see the eyes of John looking back at her.

Roland became a runner and supplied baby food and diapers for those in need and still continues to supply food and water for the elderly. My heart softened upon hearing about Roland’s love and compassion. He takes after Pam.

When I first talked to her after the hurricane, Pam said she was grateful for everything even though she had lost her home. She was more grateful for life than ever before. Pam has always been grateful and joyful. “That’s the only way I’ve ever known,” she said. She expresses the spirit of love in all she does and in all that she touches.

One night, Pam excitedly called me from Georgia to tell me that she and those who had evacuated together were sitting in a gazebo at the hotel. While they were talking, she happened to look up and saw a 15-foot lighthouse right in front of her. She felt she just had to share this with me because it was such a positive sign. Pam teared up on three different occasions during our conversations when she told me of a song by Harry Connick, Jr. that touched her heart.

Do you know what it means to Miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day.
I know I’m not wrong... this feeling’s gettin’ stronger the longer, I stay away.
Miss them moss covered vines...
the tall sugar pines where mockin’ birds used to sing
And I’d like to see that lazy Mississippi... hurryin’ into spring
The moonlight on the bayou... a creole tune... that fills the air
I dream...about magnolias in bloom...and I’m wishin’ I was there.
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that’s where you left your heart.

To date, Cajun Pam and all who are in Conyers with her are still at the hotel, just sittin’ in the gazebo lookin’ up at the old lighthouse and thankin’ God for all they have.

I asked Pam what she needed and she said, “Sugar, I need nothing, I have everything.”

Pam’s granddaughter, Jessica, had been missing for many days and she told me they just located her. Jessica is OK, and it just happened that she was found on her 18th birthday. Popeye (John’s little dog) was also found. Pam was very excited when she told me he was soooo dirty and that she would be happy to give him a bath when she sees him again. And she will look into his eyes and see John looking back at her, I’m sure.

Yes, I’ll be going back to New Orleans, maybe during Mardi Gras, as I had been before. I wouldn’t miss the aliveness of this remarkable, resilient city with its multitude of colorful people and beads.

As I think back on my trip to Cancun, I can’t help but reflect on this tragedy and those who lost their lives, homes and the numerous cases of missing children, people and their pets.

All of the world came together to help Louisiana and Mississippi. Over 115 countries have become involved in this endeavor. We’ve all helped in our own way. It will take a while, but we will put it back together as we remain connected and united as one world.

Pam just let me know that the 33 homes where she lived are still standing. Someone flew overhead and saw them all intact. Miracles do happen!

At one point, as they were trying to evacuate the last hold-outs from Louisiana, the TV showed a large group of people having a parade as they happily marched out of the city. They said that if they were going to leave, it will be with a parade. That’s the spirit of New Orleans! They were playing their trumpets and saxophones and joyfully singing as they proclaimed, “We’re gonna dance again. The Big Easy is here to stay. We’ll have a good time. Good times will roll again.”

Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine
If you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind!

Gerri Magee is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She continues to share her thoughts “On The Path” in this column. You can write her at gerri@phenomenews.com.