How to make groceries in a pirogue

Well, this is it. It has been a year since all of our lives have been turned upside down and we all learned the true meaning of what it is to miss New Orleans. I, luckily, don’t miss it anymore because I’m back home, and I’ve trained myself to look at potential rather than loss. I’m not sure if it’s denial or optimism, but I can look at flooded out houses at this point and think, “Isn’t that cute, I would fix this and that, get a porch lantern and put up the cutest white picket fence.” I think it’s certainly better than driving around in touch with the fact that a lot of the city still looks like Hiroshima.

There are certain things the storm has taught me: Show Up; Pay Attention to lessons that have heart and meaning; Speak the truth without blame or judgement; Be open to outcome but not attached to outcome; family and friends are the only things that matter in the end; looking to the future is endlessly more hopeful than lamenting the past; my husband and I can make it through anything; don’t take one moment for granted-you don’t know when life can turn on a dime; and I love New Orleans more than I ever realized.

I’ve got both jobs to go to today, but against better judgement I’m planning on going to see Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf tonight. I’m not going to feel good at work tomorrow, but that’s o.k. I’m young. Besides, I can’t think of a better way to reflect on the past and look to the future than dancing the night away while Rebirth blasts out jazz that you can feel through your whole body. It’s really, really good to be home.

Next week New Orleans will experience its one year post-Katrina anniversary. There will be a special mass, some ceremonies at the multiple breach sites, and a special second-line. I’ll be commemorating the day by working at my two jobs, but it is probably good to stay busy.

Last night I went out for drinks with a friend, and we talked about how important it was for us to be there for our friends who have lost everything. She lamented that she actually offended someone at work for suggesting that Katrina be a day of thanksgiving for our friends and family and mentioning that she and her mother were planning on exchanging presents. I’m not sure what is offensive in that, but I suggested we say innappropriate things all the time, and this was in no way one of those instances and she shouldn’t worry about her uber sensitive co-worker.

Which brings me to some funny and offensive things that had me cracking up over breakfast this morning. Chris and I went out for crab cakes benedict at Rickabono’s, a fabulous Uptown breakfast hot-spot, and I picked up “The New Orleans Levee” a comedic pseudo news journal whose catch phrase is “We don’t hold anything back”. It had an article in it poking fun at the mayor’s initial anniversary plan which included having a comedy show and fireworks display until he came under fire for planning events unbefitting of our tragedy. Well, “The New Orleans Levee” jests that it is exposing other anniversary plans the mayor had made that didn’t make the news. These included: An Army Corps of Engineers sponsored reflooding of the city to create a “Ninth Ward Dunk Tank.” A disaster themed carnival with rides including the Gulf Coast Scrambler and the FEMA sponsored Tilt-a-Whirl; A spirited “Chop Your Way Out of the Attic” contest; Free Coast Guard helicopter basket rides; A storm-themed, city sponsored character to be known as Katrina the Clown.

I laughed all through breakfast. Hey, our innapropriate sense of humor is part of what makes us New Orleanians, and this is no time to lose our sense of humor. Another article quips “FEMA has ear-marked its second-largetst grant ever to help finance mental health counseling for people it has helped drive out of their minds.”

As a side note, everything here is going fine. Chris has been down for a while now and we are staying with our fabulous friend Stephanie and are quite comfortable. The FEMA trailer I mentioned in my last entry is still as of yet not hooked up with utilities so Maya the cat remains in Alabama. We don’t have the key to the FEMA trailer yet either, but that’s not a big deal because we’ve learned that most of the trailers use the same key so we should be able to just copy a friend’ key–I laugh, but Jesus Christ what’s wrong with the feds? Bush actually has the nerve to show his face down here as part of the anniversary festivities and I’m hoping our folks don’t give him the satisfaction that silly Rocky Vacarella did with his mock FEMA trailer and praise, and meet him with the protests he deserves.

Well, I’ll have to sign off as I am joining friends at Marconi meadows who belong to a bar sponsored kick-ball team to watch their game. Bar sponsored kick-ball teams are just one more hillarious reason that I love this town!! I love this town.