The Snafu

To every good trip there must be at least one Snafu, and no I am not talking about the yummy short-lived Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor. A snafu, like a rock thrown onto your smooth path of paradise. Well, a big ol' fat rock has landed right smack dab into my plans for New Orleans.

When we registered with Habitat we specifically chose them and the project at St. Bernard's Parish because they had transportation to and from Camp Hope. However, as of December 31, 2006 the funding ran out for said transportation, now this do-well volunteer trip is steadily rising out of our financial reach.

True splitting a car rental between three people technically would not be that difficult to swing for the week, but it is stretching the budget, and besides, it is wrong on so many levels. I place none of the blame on Habitat or any other organization in the NOLA area, no, this blame gets placed directly at those who have power over finances and make decisions for this piece of America that is slower to be rebuilt than many of the countries whom we send aid to. Its frustrating that there is not enough money in the area to take care of a little thing like transportation for the volunteers. People who are holding back monetary funds, conscious or unconscious, are harming a city's potential for regrowth, and the thousands of people who wish to call New Orleans home once again.

I wonder how many volunteers have been turned away because they can't afford the transportation. How much work could have been done had those volunteers been able to go?

Someone please tell me, where we go from here?

The Letter

Dear Brad and Angelina;

While I am extremely happy that you will be joining me in New Orleans this year, I would like to extend my concern for your plans. I am sorry, but it does seem as though you are following my lead. For example, my news last year of heading to Kenya for the summer was overshadowed by your holiday in Namibia. Although, I'm not exactly sure why- since they are on opposite sides of the continent. But still, everyone would ask "Are you going to see Brad and Angelina?" So now, a full two months after my announcement of volunteering with habitat for a week in February, you announce your plans to move there. As one would guess, I have now been inundated with questions about the two of you and if I will see you there. While I cannot assure anyone I will, I can assure them that copying is a form of flattery, and I take flattery well....

Furthermore, in order to plan our vacations for the next two years, I would like to go "on the record" with my plans so that you may coincide your travels with mine since historically that seems to be what has taken place.

April 2007: Ireland
Summer 2008: South East Asia
Summers hence forth: South Africa, UAE, France, Norway/Sweden, Italy, India, Australia

Due to my consideration of your family as partners in global humanitarian work and crusaders in social change I hope to work with you in the future. Thank you for your time in this matter, see you around the big easy!

Sincerely,
Lady B