I'm sorry my phone died; thanks for the post. So, so good to hear you! And to know New Orleans is welcoming you back as she did me. "Welcome home, baby..." Sweeter words have never been spoken by a city.
It is a humbling and almost curious thing, how the residents look out for and care for you when you think your reason for being there is to help them. It is one of those things to meditate over in the small hours, and then a new understanding comes to you as the sunrise reaks over the Florida Avenue bridge, while you're still marveling that you're in the ghetto and yet you can see the stars at night as clearly as if you were in the country, and the freight train whistles take you downhome, and you realize... I'm here. I'm home.
God, I miss her.
It's -- I remember, three or four nights into my time home in December, sitting on the steps of St. Mary's at around 12 AM, having gotten in from the HoE about a half hour earlier, smoking a cigarette. A resident of the L9, Ira, walked by and came up to talk with me. "Baby," he said, "you got to slow down, or you're going to make yourself real sick." I WAS very tired then and I'd been going for 48 hours straight at that point. I wondered how he knew... and was surprised he cared.
It's true, though, that you can't help if you urn out. So remember to rest and talk to folks and don't feel bad (I felt guilty whenever I wasn't OMG! Doing Something!) when you take it slow for a day or so.
The following week, I had a bad cold, and Ira happened to e walking y again, and asked if I wanted anything at the store. "Orange juice?" he suggested when I told him I had a cold and didn't really want anything. Again... a resident looking out for me.
And those are just two incidents. There are many more.
God, I love New Orleans, and her people.
I'm going to try to find my cell charger by tomorrow. :P
I love you, hope to hear many more of these posts, y'hear? I love 'em.
Be safe, be well... as if you'll be anything else.
(As I started to ask before my phone so rudely turned itself off: are you going to the Common Ground celebration tomorrow? I wonder if James might be there... check drunah's post in neworleans - or give her a call. It'd be great if you could go!)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-02-17 05:18 am (UTC)It is a humbling and almost curious thing, how the residents look out for and care for you when you think your reason for being there is to help them. It is one of those things to meditate over in the small hours, and then a new understanding comes to you as the sunrise reaks over the Florida Avenue bridge, while you're still marveling that you're in the ghetto and yet you can see the stars at night as clearly as if you were in the country, and the freight train whistles take you downhome, and you realize... I'm here. I'm home.
God, I miss her.
It's -- I remember, three or four nights into my time home in December, sitting on the steps of St. Mary's at around 12 AM, having gotten in from the HoE about a half hour earlier, smoking a cigarette. A resident of the L9, Ira, walked by and came up to talk with me. "Baby," he said, "you got to slow down, or you're going to make yourself real sick." I WAS very tired then and I'd been going for 48 hours straight at that point. I wondered how he knew... and was surprised he cared.
It's true, though, that you can't help if you urn out. So remember to rest and talk to folks and don't feel bad (I felt guilty whenever I wasn't OMG! Doing Something!) when you take it slow for a day or so.
The following week, I had a bad cold, and Ira happened to e walking y again, and asked if I wanted anything at the store. "Orange juice?" he suggested when I told him I had a cold and didn't really want anything. Again... a resident looking out for me.
And those are just two incidents. There are many more.
God, I love New Orleans, and her people.
I'm going to try to find my cell charger by tomorrow. :P
I love you, hope to hear many more of these posts, y'hear? I love 'em.
Be safe, be well... as if you'll be anything else.
(As I started to ask before my phone so rudely turned itself off: are you going to the Common Ground celebration tomorrow? I wonder if James might be there... check
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Date: 2007-02-17 11:38 am (UTC)Have a great trip. Come back safe and happy.
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