It was the middle of winter and I was working on anoil rig. A huge storm hit. It was wet and freezing and Icaught pneumonia.“This isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Ithought to myself.I quit. I had worked making pizzas for Johnny’sPizza House during high school and stillhad some good relationships with managers. Ithought …

Just as most Americans remember where they wereon 9/11, those of us living on the Gulf Coast rememberthe fear and concern that enveloped our region twentyyears ago on August 29th. A lady named Katrina changedmany of our lives. In looking back, many Louisianansfelt that maybe New Orleans really was acity that care forgot, and the whole Gulf Coastwas thrown in …