New Orleans, LA. 9th Ward corner slab party with Bud. 2006
I love this photo. This was taken on a cold concrete slab in the carcass of a rotting Upper 9th Ward neighborhood, where a bunch of us Common Ground volunteers sat around drinking beers and toking Katrina schwag over the chilly Thanksgiving holidays. We were a motley crew from all over the U.S. who'd been gutting mold-infested houses in Hazmat suits all day. This time spent on the corner, we had it coming to us. We'd been working with hazardous materials all day—for free. We deserved to catch a decent post-work buzz. Robert was one of my favorite volunteers. An eager, sweet kid from one of the Dakotas. (North?) He was too sincere to be an early hipster, though he dressed the part without even realizing it. Years later Robert sent me a postcard...with the request that I send him one in return. It's been a few years now and I still feel guilty about not sending him back a postcard. Yet. So until I find his address—send it to me again, Robert!—this will have to suffice.