3.18.2010
Today was nostalgic for me. I spent my morning preparing lunch for 25 folks that are here in Haiti. Sharing laughs as Jeremy showed Melanie, the sassiest little 4 year old Haitian girl ever, how to use his camera. Chopping and slicing bacon and onions and scrounging for ingredients, reminded me of my own kitchen. My wife can attest to my ability to create delectable dishes from a random assortment of ingredients. So similar to my own kitchen that there was a dog laid out on the floor, tongue hanging out, half sleeping waiting for me to drop a tasty morsel. Except this was not Oscar, my 70 pound white lab. Nope this was Marley, a drooley faced 220 pound Mastiff teddy bear, that awaited a errant piece of bacon. Marley loves to have his tummy rubbed, but your hand will not suffice. To really rub his tummy, a work boot with solid treads is necessary to really get his massive hind leg kicking. Seeing him made me wonder if Oscar was in my kitchen watching my wife make cereal for dinner, hoping for a few Cheerios.
Later, the doctor from Canada was remembering what a hot shower felt like, and brushing your teeth in the sink. Not having to follow every action with hand sanitizer, or watch your tent hospital flood as the rains fell today. As we left the hospital tonight we saw a grim reminder of life in Haiti. It was a home set up next to a wall, abandoned, but tomorrow we will greet the resident with , “Bonjour,” as we head to work. Home for many Haitians is 8 sticks and a hodge-podge of tarps. So when it rains, the floor becomes 4 inches of water that just ran off a garbage heap. Forget having a roof. Having a floor is the real concern. When an overcrowded tent city was a step up in homes for people, can there be any hope for Haiti? When the UN leaves certain parts of town at night, because it is unsafe for 8 men with machine guns and an armored vehicle to be there when darkness falls, is there any chance of light? When volunteers cannot rebuild homes for people, because once it is fixed, the landlords will kick out the tenants and charge double the rent, is a social conscience a sad dream shared by few.
There is hope for Haiti. There are lights shining in the darkness. There is a social conscience. There truly is, and when I doubt these things, I listen for the sound of Melanie’s giggle as she plays hide and seek with me or remember Marley, drool hanging to the floor, content with a tummy rub and a pat on the head. As Marley’s namesake used to say “Don’t worry, ‘bout a thing. Because every little thing’s, gonna be alright.” As long as there are ordinary people, doing extraordinary things, there will always be hope for Haiti.
