Photo Blog 2: When times are tough...people are nicer

I say that because I don't know how many people I've met over the last few days that have the most positive attitude, despite this last storm we've gone through.

This morning, I was taking pictures at Gilliam Circle in Port Arthur, where tons of cars kept a constant, near mile long line of residents coming for food, ice, and a case of bottled water.

The first thing I noticed was this kid sitting on top of a stack of bottled water cases. Then I realized what he was doing. He was sitting up there while his grandfather was loading the water into the cars that came up. When his grandfather needed another case, he'd get one ready for him. I had to take that picture.



His name is Dalvin Warrick. He's seven years old and instead of sleeping in or playing outside, or anything else a seven year old would rather be doing, he was helping his grandfather, A.J. Thomas, help other people.



I got a chance to speak to Thomas as he was loading the cases of bottled water into a total strangers car, and he said something very befitting of a fellow neighbor in a trying time. "If our entire community came together as a whole in the city's hour of need, we can get this city back on it's feet in no time," he said.

How very selfless. How very true.

The Red Cross and Convoy of Hope teams were extremely eager to get the job done and well. They were very organized; I could tell this was not their first rodeo.



They were kind and courteous, and stayed to give out the essential goods right down to the last box.



I was offered dinner twice today by people I've never even met. The only reason I turned down the second meal was because I just got done eating the first. The first, being a big ol' pot of red beans and some rice, with a splash of habanero sauce. I'm telling you, I've been lucky. I haven't had to dive into a M.R.E, although it's still sitting on the counter in the kitchen, where's it's been since I almost ate it yesterday.

During Hurricane Rita, I lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches for days. Today, I've officially had my first Ike P.B. and J.

I also got a chance to tour Bridge City yesterday. But first, let me wrap up this blog. All I can tell you is, I have never seen first hand what I saw yesterday at my brother-in-law's house.

Mike Tobias, Port Arthur News