I am back at my desk after being in New Orleans for several days, and let me tell you, what a trip!! I want to give everyone that made our trip so wonderful a big thank you. Never in my life have I been around such nice people! The culture is rich, the people are fantastic, and the food is even better!
Ted Vlaz and I were lucky to have some time to spend with long time residents (and customers) Barry, Mercedes, and Charlie Rittenberg. They drove us around the city and showed us homes still devastated by Katrina. I was shocked to see the amount of multi-million dollar homes still in disrepair or completely abandoned 2 years after the storm. The streets were lined with FEMA trailers even in the nicest neighborhoods. What was most shocking were the water lines on the fronts of these homes. Some of them came pretty close to the roof tops.
Home in New Orleans still unoccupied after Katrina. The red arrow shows the waterline from the flooding.
Ted and I attended the PPLA convention and Houston Guild meeting. The best part of going to these shows is the one-on-one time we get with you, our customers. I absolutely love being able to put a face with a name when talking on the phone. It is a great way to build one-on-one relationships. So the next time you see a convention or guild meeting in your area I strongly suggest you attend. You never know who you will see, the information you may pull from the classes, or the terrific time you may have just meeting the friendly faces from your lab!
Marsha Thomas