My favorite picture of Dad

This has always been my favorite picture of my dad. I don't know why. I think it was taken in 1936 when he would have been 25-years-old. Had he lived, he would have been 95-years-old on January 29, 2006. 

Grandpa and Grandma Cathers and the kids

This is a photo of my dad's family taken many years ago: Grandfather Robert Tonten Cathers, Grandmother Mary Jane Rudder Cathers. The boys, Bart Dencil on grandpa's lap; my dad, Lewis Elbert and Ambrose Earl. Naomi standing is tall in back. Margaret had not yeat been born when this photo was made and Orville had died as a child. Aunt Naomi was the last of them. She passed away last year at the age of 91.

Mom and most of us

This is a picture of Mom and most of us kids and spouses with some of the grandchildren and their spouses and some great-grandchildren and some others thrown in. This was taken in June of 2003 after church on the Sunday after our family reunion. Youngest brother, A.B., could not make it. 

LSU Cheerleaders

Here is a picture of the LSU cheerleaders. Aren't they a goodlooking bunch? You ought to see the rejects! Yuch!!

These folks are back

Another Chalmette street shows people are retrurning to their homes. These trailers are all sitting in driveways and yards of flooded homes.

Floated house

This house has floated off its foundation and is stiing partially on the sidewalk. Just looking at it you would think there is no damage. 

Abandoned, flooded, vandalized and looted

Three cars on a street in Chalmette evidently have been sitting in place since before Katrina struck. Note that the wheels and are missing form one car, another has had all the windows broken out. Vandalism and looting occur on a regular basis in the parish. Some of those arrested for looting are the very people who are supposed to be helping in bringing the parish back. The houses in the background are vacant, of course. they too have been torn open either by search and rescue, the owners or others. 

Flour Power Reopens

January 24, 2006, Ronda and Doyle DeForest reopen their pastry shop and restaurant on Paris Road in Chalmette, La. Another sign that the people of St. Bernard are resilient, motivated and, in a good way, stuborn. Lets wish them the best and let everyone know that they are back.

Kristen and I went down to help out. I kind of stood around and got in the way. I wanted to take some photos of the customers but Kristen said they might not like it so I didn't.

The fat guy pointing at the sign is me. 

Winston's growing a beard

Winston Freeman, daughter's father-in-law, is growing a beard. Jackie, Randall and Mary Jane don't think he should. I think it looks good. We need to get some comments if anyone is looking at this thing.

If anyone's reading this, please leave your vote. Beard or no beard. 

Dinner with the Freemans

January 20, 2006, we had dinner at Jake's Seafood with my daughter, Mary Jane, her husband, Randall, and his parents Jackie and Winston Freeman. The food was good ( the shrimp extremely fresh and the stuffed mushrooms were enormous). Winston and Jackie finally have a meeting set with their Allstate Insurance adjuster to inspect the remains of ther house in Chalmette. It's only been four and a half months. 

The Guidrys waiting in line for FOOD

Here are the Guidrys and Betty waiting in line for food at the City of Central fund raiser for St. Bernard Parish. 

City of Central raises money for St. Bernard, Parish

On Janaury 14, 2006, City of Central, Louisiana, had a fund raiser"Cooking for Our Neighbors" and raised $190,000.00 for the St, Bernard Parish School District. The city had a contest to see who could cook the best couchaon-au-lait, chili, fried turkey and jambalaya. The food cooked was sold at $10.00 a plate. There were also raffles and auctions to raise the money. All the proceeds were donated to the St. Bernard School District. 

Consentration

Abbigale Grace Guidry puts all of her mighty brtain to work in trying to reach the elusive "next level" on her Gameboy. After several hours of this she had to turn the Gameboy off because "my thumbs hurt." Give a kid a Gameboy and you can almost forget that he is any where nearby.

BFT in his element

Here is our friend BFT (big fat Tom) doing what he loves best -- dressing up like the Easter Bunny and looking for young attractive female bunnies to harass and pester. He dresses like this Mardi Gras, Halloween, Easter, Arbour Day, Flag Day, and on any other day that he can find an excuse to do so. 

Happy Easter 2005

Here are Morgan and Owen in their 2005 Easter picture. I don't have a Christmas photo of them from 2005 although I'm sure that Santa paid them a visit. 

Jay, Jade, and Danielle

Jay, Jade and Danielle by the Christmas tree on January 7. Jay was sick and couldn't make it for Christmas or New Years Day so we held Christmas until they could make the trip from Mississippi. We enjoyed their company. 

Randall and Mary Jane

Here are the two LSU freaks in front of the Christmas tree two weeks after Christmas. Randall says he's gained weight over the holidays and Mary Jane says she's lost 40 pounds since last Christmas. 

Mary Jane and Jennie Lane

My daughter, Mary Jane, playing with Betty's granddaughter, Jennie Lane. Two cute girls with rhyming names. I know there's a limerick in there somewhere. Betcha Winston Freeman wishes he had one of those (granddaughters).

Looters in action

Here are a couple of dangerous looters in action, aka Abbigale and Savannah Guidry. Don't they look desparate? 

Getting tetanus and hepatitus shots

Here's Betty getting her shots prior to digging through the ruins of her mother's home and her brother-in-law's house in St. Bernard Parrish. They highly suggested that anyone who was going to be exposed to the flooded areas get the shots. They wee free and given by medics from a reserve unit from Arkansas . 

Just a little wind damage

This is a house in Braithwaite, La., after Hurrican Katrina. There was also flooding in the area with the water abut 8 or 10 feet deep. 

At the wedding reception

Here is a picture of my friend Elisa and me at the wedding reception after I got to pass out chicken to the guests. 

Mary Jane's Kitchen pre-Katrina

This is Mary Jane's kitchen before Katrina and the flooding. It was really a very nice kitchen and dining area. Look at all the LSU stuff on the 'fridge.

Mary Jane's Kitchen After Katrina

Here is a picture of my daughter's kitchen after Hurrican Katrina. Loverly, huh? 

Mi Lindo

Ah, here is another picture of my eldest grandson, Owen, obviously wearing his father's reading glasses. He is one "muchacho guapo."