I’ve spent some time this week looking at the '06 school yearbook. There are pictures in there from the hurricane evacuations. Our school housed evacuees and their pets. One photo shows them outside exercising and it brought a wash of emotions.
I wondered about the FIRST community’s reaction to the hurricanes and spent some time going through and finding threads. You rallied. It wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last. It was a humbling experience to sit here and read your thoughts, your suggestions, your efforts put into actions.
If you received any of the purple beads from Purple Haze, they came from New Orleans. We have an alumni parent who traveled there several times to help her family following the hurricanes. As soon as the businesses began opening back up she loaded up a big suitcase full of the beads and brought them back to us. They are all gone now and she’ll have to load another suitcase for us next season. 
The beads were a very small thing but they were a triumph.
Things have slowed now and it is time to assess, smell the roses, and give thanks. Thank you FIRST community.
Jane