Last week, Ken stopped to chat while I was painting a bayou across from the Bay St. Louis yacht club (Locals always say BSL for their city name.) He told me it was called Alligator Bayou, in honor of the one alligator that Katrina blew in from somewhere.  Another young man stopped to tell me he had even seen the alligator when he was wading.

We exchanged numbers and Ken’s wife, Barb, called to invite me to the Pass Christian Art club — where I was able to arrange my first group paint out. Barb and Marilyn joined me today on our first 70°  day here.

We went to Joe’s Bayou, which  is a pretty extensive wetlands. I learned that what appears to be a friendly Mississippi wave hello is actually how locals chase away the really annoying “no-see-ums” – those little suckers sting!

As we were painting, we were joined by neighbors Marion and Maxine, granddaughters of the original Joe of Joe’s Bayou. Marion and Maxine not only shared their family history with us and told us how the land has changed in their 70 years, but brought us soft drinks to quench our thirst. The sisters invited us to return as often as we like and showed us a better spot on their property from which to view the wetlands.

Katrina memories still intrude on this peaceful scene. Another visitor stopped (this is after Barb told me how deserted the road was) to share that she also was a painter, but just couldn’t paint outdoors after Katrina. This is something I have frequently heard from local artists.

All 4 of these ladies re-built their flooded homes. Both Barb’s and Maxine’s homes were quickly re-built. They shared how contractors’ supply trucks would come with armed guards because supplies were in such great demand and their was no functioning police force. The neighborhood was also filled with large, hungry packs of dogs and everyone shudders as they talk about all the snakes.

“People don’t like to talk about those first weeks” Maxine said, “I know families that lost over 10 houses between them. I miss the history of my old family house – but it sure feels good to be back  here after 18 months away – this is home.”