Slidell, Louisiana

All along the Gulf Coast, you see images like this — messages from desperate people to more desperate people.

Sometimes it seems as if Katrina took everything, every last building, every tree, every shred of hope or happiness. And so you hold on to the few things you have left, even if they’re kind of shabby, even if you don’t like them that much anyway. It might be bent or broken, it might not fit or the color may be all wrong, but dammit it’s yours.

And when someone comes and takes even that, it gets personal.

For those who want to see where I’m staying, what I’m up to, or more personal images than I post here, please visit the Flickr stream.