Hurricane victim thankful for Cape's hospitality

Thanks to the town that took us in.

On Aug. 29, my life changed forever. Hurricane Katrina struck my hometown of Slidell, La., with her full force and fury, forcing my daughter and me to flee. We arrived in Cape Girardeau in the middle of the night on Aug. 27 with only four day's worth of clothes and a few treasured baby pictures.

Like the many times before when tropical storms and hurricanes have threatened the Gulf Coast, we expected to spend a few days visiting with my parents and then return home to life as it was before we left. But not this time.

As we watched with horror, Katrina came onshore with all her fury intact and permanently changed our landscape and our lives. For more then five days we watched along with the rest of the world, not knowing if we had a house to return to.

Finally, we received the call we had been waiting for. A friend was able to visit our house and report back the damage. And, thankfully, the flooding had not affected us. But it would be a long time before we could even think about returning to Slidell.

So, on Aug. 31 I went to Clippard Elementary School with nothing other then my daughter's birth certificate in hopes of registering her for school. The staff and faculty at Clippard were so kind to us and accepted my daughter, provided her with school supplies and even held a fund-raiser to benefit her school back at home.

I cannot possibly express my gratitude to everybody in Southeast Missouri who has helped us through this traumatic event. The congregation at St. Mark's Lutheran Church accepted us into their family. Lou and Barbara Hagler have been tremendous neighbors and have given me something to do by letting me help out at The UPS Store. Bonnie and Paul Kipper baby-sat. Sandra Humburg baby-sat and took us to the library. All of the dog walkers in the neighborhood befriended my daughter. The Dodds took my daughter to Sunday School every weekend. The Heartland Lace Guild donated to the hurricane relief effort. And everybody else in Cape Girardeau made us feel truly welcome in our temporary home.

And I can't possibly thank my parents enough for all that they have done to help us through this tragedy.

On Dec. 17 we will be heading back home to Slidell. Though things will never be as they were before Aug. 29 when Katrina changed everything, we are so thankful for the kindness and generosity of strangers who became friends in our home away from home.

Thank you, Cape Girardeau.

Lotte Farmer has been living in Cape Girardeau since Hurricane Katrina forced her from her Slidell, La., home.