Thursday, October 20, 2005, 12:55 a.m., C.D.T.~

Dear Maria~

Hi! Thanks so much for writing back to me; it is good to hear from you again!

Have you gotten your power/electric back yet? Or are you still "in the dark"? I know that there are portions of the Gulf Coast who haven't gotten their power back since Rita hit, and that has been nearly two months ago. Such a shame; this should NOT be! Those people should have been helped a LONG time ago, not wait like this!! This is crazy!! I am glad that you are going to go to Texas to be with your husband and sons; I know that they will be so overjoyed to see you again! I know you must miss them like crazy!! If I were seperated from my husband or my kids like that, I would go MAD!!!!

You are most welcome to come here to Tennessee, to visit; we would LOVE to have you stay, even if it IS for a few days or even a week. We would let you stay longer, but our house is close to overflowing now!! We have three kids from New Orleans, Louisiana, staying at our place, and we also have a friend from Alaska who will be staying with us for a while until she gets better (she has been sick). Plus we have the kids and my parents, so there is NOT much room! But you ARE welcome to come for a little while at least; if need be, we will pay you for a few nights' stay at a local motel not far from our place, and you can come and visit once you are settled in. That way, you'd be close by,  and you could still come and visit, and know that you have a place to stay. It may not be home, but at least you have SOMEWHERE SAFE to stay, and besides, you would have power, gas, and food, and the basic necessities in order to survive. Anything is better than staying in a shelter for over a month and a half!! And I would make you some of your favorite Cajun dishes; all the more incentive for y'all to come and visit!! :)

You would also get to meet my husband, Bill, and my parents, and my children. Now, the number of children MAY be shocking to you, but they are still all very good kids, and they are very well behaved and do love meeting new people. But people sometimes have a problem with meeting my kids because of their obvious disabilities, but it is never long before people forget the fact that my kids are disabled and are just like any other child! My kids are all compassionate, caring, and friendly in nature, and they would not do anything to make you feel uncomfortable or ill at ease! You would also meet my Pomeranian, "Cajun Gold" (she may bark a lot, but she is just defending her territory, and she wouldn't harm a hair on your head; she is really a very nice little dog!!), and our other pets, and if you like kids or animals, then our place is the perfect place to visit, as we have plenty of both! :)

Have you heard from your husband or your boys yet? I sure hope so; I know how it is not to be able to hear from my kids or my husband! When I was in Sri Lanka earlier this year, I couldn't call my family, and it about drove me CRAZY!! But they emailed me, and I emailed them back, and it was sooo good to hear from them, especially since I was having such a bad case of homesickness!

What about those Houston Astros? Wasn't that a thrilling championship series? I am sooo glad that they are going to the World Series; it's about time they did! They sure played their hearts out to get there, and I hope they go all the way in the World Series!! I know Chicago is glad to be there, but I am rooting for the Astros; I have always liked the Houston Astros!! We watched the game last night, and sister, y'all never heard such carrying-on in your life; we were all screaming and going CRAZY!!!! GOOOOO, ASTROS!!!!! :D

I am looking out the window; it is warm here, but it is supposed to cool off by Saturday or early Sunday; it has been unseasonably hot here. The weather is partly cloudy out (or, if you are an optimist, partly SUNNY!), but we may have rain when the cold front comes through, and then the HIGHS are supposed to be in the 70's!! That is absolutely DELIGHTFUL weather; I just LOVE fall!!!! So by the time we go to the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration, we may be dodging a few raindrops when we leave to go to the Opry House!! :) I was thinking for a while we weren't going to go there because Johnny and Ronee', two of my kids, fell ill, but they are now both on the mend, and they are feeling much better. I took them to the doctor's on Monday, and the doctor gave them a shot and some medication, and they are now feeling much better than they were. (Johnny had the beginnings of what appeared to be a cold, and Ronee' had a sinus infection.) I will tell you about the Grand Ole Opry the next time I write, so stay tuned for Louie's "Concert Capers"! LOL

I hope the weather cools off there, I know y'all are sick and tired of the heat, especially those who don't have power or air. That must be horrible!!! Speaking of weather, there is another hurricane in the Gulf, Hurricane Wilma, who is now headed towards the Mexican Riviera (Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, etc.), and then she is scheduled to go to Florida. As long as she doesn't decide to go to Mississippi, Texas, or Louisiana (or Alabama), I will be happy; y'all don't NEED another danged old hurricane visiting your area!!! I bet y'all are HURRICANED out!! I know I am; I have friends down there, and I worry about them when I hear of a hurricane prowlin' in the Gulf!!!! I just hope they make it!!!! (My friends in Miami, Florida--Eddie Green and his family, as well as Betty Jo Ciagalore--, already got visited by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; they are now facing yet another hurricane threat!! This is NOT good!!!! I can only imagine how Y'ALL must feel about Wilma!! YIKES!!!!

Well, dear heart, I will let you go; I have to get back to work. I am at work as I write this; my lunch break is just about over, and I have to get back on the clock before my supes catch me writing on the computer. They may fire me or get a bit mad (whichever comes first!!). I will write more later. Take care, Maria, and do write when you can. God bless you always, and know you are always in my prayers and thoughts!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your Cajun Tennessee friend, Louie May. :)