Maria,

Thanks for your email expressing support. These have been so helpful! Everyone is safe but scattered. Tammy is currently in West Monroe, LA and we are in touch with her.

We are operating out of an office (of a friend's) in Baton Rouge temporarily. You can use this email address again as our office email was reactivated yesterday. Below is a cell phone number. Also, our 800-749-4950 should be relayed to this number in the next day or two. Just moments ago we were advised that the Norwegian Sun will be moved to Houston with basically the same itinerary. Can this work for you? Doubt that we can find another big block of cabins on any other ship. We are told also that guests that elect to stay on the cruise with the change in departure port will receive a $50 shipboard credit per person (up to $100 per cabin).

Bob & Jill Wall

Vacations At Sea
PO Box 4165
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
inquiry@seavacations.com
225-921-9857
504-482-1572

Maria's Choice for New Orleans Donation

Giving to the Red Cross is always a great idea. They are a great organization that is helping so many people. I am giving to the Red Cross but I am also picking a displaced family to help, that is part of our own spiritual community; someone I personally know from the New Orleans area that needs our help. She is a client of mine and her name is Dawn.

She called me on Wednesday September 7. I have known Dawn for about five years. She lives or I should say, lived in Violet La. She and her three children had no warning that Katrina was headed their way. News reports the night before, said she and the rest of Saint Bernard Parish was safe. Unfortunately, that was not the case. On Saturday morning she woke up and heard the warnings on the TV, to evacuate immediately because Katrina was coming. This happened when the storm took a last minute turn away from New Orleans, slamming into Dawn's city instead. Dawn, her three children, her sister in law Kim, Kim's four kids, Dawn's mother, Miss Ethel and two other related families grabbed a few belongings and took off. They are now in Arkansas, living in a motel. They lost everything.......I mean everything. Their houses are gone. Their jobs are gone...for now....but they are alive. Dawn was a real estate agent in New Orleans. She will not have any houses to sell for months so her income is gone. Being self employed, I do not think she qualifies for unemployment. Dawn is a Scorpio with a Gemini rising sign. She is a very sensitive person who no doubt is greatly effected emotionally, physically and financially because of this ordeal.

I like knowing specifically where my donation goes and knowing how it makes a difference in someone's life. I am dividing the profits from my book sales between The Red Cross and Dawn and her relatives (the five families total) today. If you want to contribute something, please let us know. As you know we are holding a special fundraiser in Lapeer on Friday night, September 16 at the Center Building 5;30p.m. - 10:30p.m. We are taking contributions and will send her a check this week. Please sign the card for Dawn and her family at the front desk as well. Thank you for anything you can give.

Just heard from Bonnie Broel tonight. She is in Slidell LA, staying at a friend's house. No electricity but at least she has water and some food. She tells me Cheryl Welliver is fine! I had a dream last night and in that dream Cheryl came to me with her daughter Rachel and said we've lost everything but we are alive! Many of you know I have been worried about Cheryl, not hearing from her. I now have a phone number and will be calling her tonight. Her family is in need. Part of my donations from my fundraisers will be going to help her. She lost all of her clothes and for those of you who know Cheryl...her entire earring collection.....over 1,000 pair. She wears HUGE clip ons; the kind that were popular in the 80's. They look so good on her! She is known for her earrings!

Bonnie's phone number is 985-649-5730. She said if anyone needs to get in contact with her, to call her there. She is searching for Charlotte from old Covington. Paulette Lucas knows this Charlotte. If anyone out there knows Charlotte, who attended Jack Fontana's retreat over New Years, please let Bonnie know she is trying to get a hold of her.

I have had good news today...Tammy and Cheryl are alive! Thank God! Still looking for news on our friend Jack Fontana. If you know anything please email me.

Final note: I just got off the phone with Bob, the owner of Vacations at Sea and he said NCL has extended our due date for another week. Bob and his staff are working to get their temp office up and running in Baton Rouge. We're in good hands! So I'm getting ready to see Houston! I've never been there but excited to see the nightlife and do some Texas sized shopping! If any of you can suggest good places to see while we're there, please email me back.

In the next newsletter I will have a new astro piece I wrote.

Take care, Maria