Five years ago...I was not a New Orleanienne when Hurricane Katrina struck, but for me and scores of other young, shiftless folk, that storm and its aftermath put the city on the map. New Orleans certainly didn't need us to get on the road to recovery, but after sucking up two and a half years of her soul, cracked sidewalks, stranger smiles, and gallows humor, I need her more than ever. We came from all over to be a part of something; every day I find out that more of my friends have decided to stay past the three-year stint they thought they were in for.
New Orleans doesn't need us, she's too stubborn for that, but that must be part of her seduction. Tonight, I'll be eating and drinking and toasting and singing in honor of my friends, near and far, who know what it's like to love this place.
No comments:
Post a Comment