Back again from my heart's home. It all seemed much better in the Quarter. More shops and restaurants open. More people.....of course it was FrenchQuarterfest weekend. But it almost seemed like normal. People were smiling again....that was the biggest difference. New Orleans was more than happy to see tourists again. We really didn't make it to much of the Fest, we couldn't seem to get out of the bars that we usually haunt.....LaFittes, The Monteleone, Yo Mama's, and on and on. Anna and I decided after the first day that we had to visit at least one bar we'd never been in on each day....just to keep us from getting stuck in a comfortable loop of decadence. And we did it. One such bar was Johnny White's, the supposed only bar that stayed open throughout The Thing. Interesting little bar....small, dark with lots of characters. Funny bathroom in that place, too...you'll have to go check it out, yourself. Of course, Kenny at LaFittes kept us entertained throughout the week.....we ended up there every night....a "must do" for me. Joe wasn't exactly friendly this time. Seemed VERY pre-occupied which isn't surprising, considering all that he must be going through. Poor guy. Even Kenny, who was brilliantly sarcastic and always the tough guy, seemed a bit haunted by anxiety. Very obsessive-compulsive about straightening bottles til they were perfectly aligned on the shelf. Insisting on using only 'his' cash register. Stuff like that. I don't remember Kenny doing that last time, in January. But, all in all, everyone seemed to be doing a little better actually. On pins and needles a bit, not knowing what to expect from this hurricane season. Everyone, including me, has their perverbial fingers crossed. Oh! I even attended my first crawfish boil. At Yo-Mamas. They taught me Crawfish 101 first and then I just went for it. Turns out I can suck heads like a pro! And, jeez, were the crawfish yummy! Ate them twice while I was there. Really, really good. Came home and immediately started checking into early retirement.....I'm meeting with Phil, financial advisor, on the 26th (?) and then I will decide. I know if I was smart, that I would stay for another year. And I probably will. But, dayum, I'd love to do it at the end of THIS year. Then move to New Orleans in January for at least 6 months. I want to help New Orleans in any way I can. But I also want to just live it. Live New Orleans. And those people who get what that means, know what I mean. In the meantime, I will pray that all my friends and everyone else in New Orleans will catche a break this hurricane season. God, you know she needs one.
