Tom Taylor's Story

Tom is a part-time bartender at Coop's Place and a good friend.

The nite before all of us were leaving with Coop we hung out and drank and swam in the pool. We played pool and drank some more and swam some more. We listened to each others lamentations and plans and theories. It was one hell of a night. There was talk of holing up at Coop's with pool cues as our only defense. Sanity came to the rescue and at 5 a.m. we loaded up jeff's vehicle — Jeff, Laura, Barry, Matt, Jesse, and I were heading to Baton Rouge on US Hwy 90. At least that was our intent. I took us to Lafayette instead by giving Coop incorrect directions.

We dropped Barry and Matt off at a motel, where I paid for one night's stay. Coop then stopped at a tire store to get a new spare tire. Laura was driven a good samaritan from the tire dealer at the airport there. Then it was on to Houston with Jeff, Jesse, Kim's dog and myself. Jeff dropped Jesse and me off at a comfort inn. Jesse was picked up by his friend from Austin about 7 or 8 p.m. I guess we had been there about 5 hours or so. Jeff continued on to Kim's parents home further west in Houston. I met a Metairie resident named William Villa and we shared a room until Sunday.

My sister from Atlanta called me and paid for a bus ticket to Atlanta and sent some spending money to the Western Union in Houston. I left by Greyhound Bus at 11pm heading to Atlanta. I got off in Meridian, MS and spent the night at The Chili House restaurant eating and drinking with Kim and Tammy all night long. I think I drank a case of beer and a half bottle of Jameson.

In the morning I was back on the bus and by 4 pm Wednesday Sept 7, 2005 I was in Atlanta. I arrived at my sister's house at 6 pm and have been here ever since then. My job is to completely organize her house and its contents. My sister Jackie (Jacqueline — 9 yrs my senior), and her husband Chuck (Charles) Calmbacher, PhD, live 30 miles northeast of Atlanta. There are 3 bedrooms, 12 cats, 3 kittens, and enough material possessions to fill the Cabildo, so my work is cut out for me. So far everything is great, I cook and clean and do the laundry and get paid fairly well. No tips though. I have sent resumes to several places and have an interview Monday Oct 3 at 3pm with O'Charley's Steakhouse. That brings me up to date.