This is a post from one month ago, shortly after I ran the L.A. Marathon. I had visited Papa less than one week earlier. Vincent DiManto, my grandfather, passed away on April 20. He was 80 years old. He is … Continue reading
I want to sing this song for you I want to lift your spirits high And in my soul I want to feel The beauty of the days gone by The beauty of the days gone by It brings a … Continue reading
My brother called me on April 20, 2010. He said my grandfather, Vincent DiManto, “Papa,” had died. I was in New Orleans at the time working with some people to rebuild houses in St. Bernard Parish. It was a little … Continue reading
Answer the phone. Listen. Respond. Hang up. Breathe. Experience Nausea. Dizziness. Switch to the passenger seat and have someone else drive. Feel helpless. Feel sadness. Feel speechless. Cry. Roll down the window and let the air sting. Close your eyes … Continue reading
Back in New Orleans. Spent the weekend with some of the people who volunteer at the St Bernard Project. The group’s been around for about three years, and they’ve been able to complete 275 homes for people in the St … Continue reading
Made it into New Orleans. Get to visit friends and work with them on a house. Looking forward to it. Went into the French Quarter last night. Parts of that place smell awful. But at one point we drove past … Continue reading
Updating from the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The flight leaving Port-Au-Prince was delayed three hours and I missed some connecting flights that would’ve taken me to New Orleans. Got some flights this morning though, no worries. As … Continue reading
Second day in the tent city. Dan the fireman/paramedic and Karl (other medic/security guy) are the main people on the meds. They’re still handing out amoxicillin and erythromycin (I think those are spelled correctly) and still seeing a lot of … Continue reading
Find out this morning I’m going to be part of the crew going back to the tent city. Helping out with the clinic. This makes sense because I’m going with a firefighter/paramedic, a guy with plenty of emergency training, and … Continue reading
Hope and hope and let the hope roll forevermore, Love and love and let the love roll forevermore, Peace and peace and let the peace roll forevermore… —————————————————————————————— Spent last night in Florida, flew into Port-Au-Prince this morning. A man, … Continue reading