Before I left last night, I finally got a chance to talk at length with the owner. She and her neighbor were talking about how it was like right after the storm. They said it was beautiful at night because you could see so many stars and meteors since it was pitch black except when the helicopters would come over and check on their tent with spotlights. They and their 2 neighbors were the only ones who were there south of the tracks at that point as far as they knew. The area smelled of death and they knew there had to be bodies in nearby houses. 5 people perished of the 20 who had stayed on their street. One was a man who had to be left behind on one boat trip because there wasn't any space left. Another weird thing to both ladies was they found themselves excited at the sight of the first bug after 2 days; it was the first living creature they had seen.

More stores are beginning to open along US 90. A Waffle House that was under construction before the storm is now open, a Mexican restaurant is open, as well as a couple more auto parts stores. Yet the great majority of businesses remain closed. It is still a good sign and very much needed for the residents so they don't have to drive all the way to Slidell or Gulfport for some things.

Merrie is off with her crew from Kansas to finish gutting the house in Pearlington and I'm back at the Hair's to hopefully get close to done today. I'm hoping to find Merrie's team in a while so I can get some pictures of them working.