An open letter to my friends on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Dear residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,

This is an open letter to you to just say how much I respect you. Your resiliency has lifted me so many times when I was having personal tough times. Life knocked you on your butt and you responded by doing what you always do, you dusted yourself off and kept moving forward.

I know it was hard. I worked with Camp Coast Care in Waveband and Pass Christian after Katrina — and even in December, half the people who sought medical treatment were in shock. I would be, too. How do you recover from something like that? When your whole world is washed away. But ate that elephant one bite at a time. And when BP sent oil your way and the economy ground to a halt, you kept going.

Some people might ask “why?” We know why. The Coast is home.

My thoughts and prayers are with you as we remember a time that you’d like forget.

Signed, a guy who draws cartoons about you from time to time.