I'm 83 and I'm not ready to give up my HOME...

I’m 83. And I AM Still FABULOUS. And I’m Not Ready to Give Up My Home.

My mother turns 83 years old on August 22.

If you ask her how she’s doing, there’s an answer our family has heard for YEARS:

“I’m FABULOUS! Any more fabulous, I wouldn’t be here!”

That’s my Mother.

She’s spent a lifetime feeding people, loving people and opening her home to family, friends and neighbors. Growing up in New Orleans our house was THE house. Holidays happened there. People didn’t even have to bring anything—Mama cooked the food, laid out the feast and welcomed everybody in.

Then came Hurricane Katrina.

In 2005, Mama was visiting me in California while I was going through chemotherapy when Katrina hit New Orleans.

She was safe.

But her home wasn’t.

She lost her house, her belongings and the personal pieces of a lifetime.

And then…

she started over.

Mama bought another home. She chose an area outside the flood zone. She maintained homeowners insurance. She did what she believed she was supposed to do to make sure she would never experience that kind of loss again.

Over the years, this new home became something different.

It became her sanctuary.

Today, my Mother enjoys the simple rhythm of her life. Her crossword puzzles. Her ION TV. Her naps. Her neighborhood walks and saying "good morning… Happy (what ever day it is)" to the people she passes.

And yes… these days she can practically live on Ensure and cashews. 😂

She’s 83.

She’s earned the right to enjoy her peace.

But something has happened that neither she nor our family could have anticipated.

Following years of devastating hurricanes, Louisiana’s homeowners insurance market has experienced enormous increases. My Mother's homeowners insurance has now reached approximately $12,000 a year.

She’s on a fixed income.

And because she has a reverse mortgage, maintaining homeowners insurance isn’t something she can simply decide to stop paying.

One day she finally said to me:

“I don’t know what else to do.”

She asked me to start a fundraiser.

I resisted.

Not because I didn’t understand the need. I resisted because I’ve spent my entire life knowing this woman as strong, independent, joyful and FABULOUS.

I didn’t want asking for help to change the way anybody saw her.

Then I realized something.

**Asking for help doesn’t diminish her. It takes courage to ASK for help. **

Mama has spent a lifetime opening her doors, feeding people, loving people and making people feel welcome.

Maybe now it’s okay to open a different kind of door…

and allow people to show up for her.

Our goal is $25,000—approximately two years of homeowners insurance—to give Mama something money can’t really measure:

breathing room.

Time to enjoy her sanctuary without waking up wondering how she’s going to keep it.

Time to make decisions about her future from a place of peace instead of fear.

And most importantly, time to simply LIVE her life.

We’re sharing my Mother's story because we know she isn’t the only one.

There are seniors throughout Louisiana and across this country living on fixed incomes while the costs associated with remaining in their homes continue to rise. Many of them even loosing their homes.

Maybe Mama’s courage in telling her story will help somebody else find the courage to tell theirs.

So for her 83rd birthday, August 22nd, we’re not asking you to feel sorry for her.

We’re inviting you to celebrate her.

If you can give, thank you.

If you can share her story, thank you.

If her story reminds you to check on an older person in your own life and ask how they’re really doing, thank you for that too.

For most of her life, Mama has answered one question the same way.

“Mother....How are you doing?”

“I’m FABULOUS! any more Fabulous I wouldn't be here”

I want her to be able to keep saying it—and mean it.

In my Mothers own words:

“I’m 83. I AM still FABULOUS….And I’m not ready to give up my home.”

Let’s help my Mother keep her sanctuary.

Let’s help her keep her independence.

And let’s give Ms. FABULOUS a little breathing room.

Happy 83rd Birthday, Mother. ❤️

Terrie, Cabrini and Donna