Sunday, July 21, 2019

Love Letter to NOLA

Dear NOLA,

I admired you from afar for so long and always wondered when we’d finally meet. (I actually planned to come in 2005, but another woman named Katrina intervened). But last year, we finally met and it was well worth the wait. In one day, I saw the Mardi Gras Indians gather and process, drummed in Congo Square and sang with Ysaye Barnwell in a Community Sing. It was a great first date.

But this time around was the real deal. You showed me your tempestuous self alongside your considerable charms and it just made me love you more. I’ve had to travel so far to find the kind of musical community I’ve always dreamed of— to Bali, to Bulgaria, to Brazil and a country just south of Burkina Faso (Ghana). But you have the same deal going on with the added bonus that it’s closer to my skin. It’s jazz and blues and brass and gypsy guitars. It’s American. 

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

1)   A walk down Frenchmen St. is a sonic delight, the 52ndSt. scene in New York I missed and now is only a nostalgic sign. But you are alive and well!

2)   Your troubadours sing the full spectrum of Americana without snobbish insistence that one is the best. The same people playing Trad Jazz, swing, be-bop, cool, Latin, modern, rhythm ‘n’ blues, Cajun, Zydeco, all the different ways to sing out freedom. 

3)   Everyone knows everyone. There’s a hierarchy of accomplishment, but it’s a flexible one, connected rather than divisive. 

4)   It’s a city of relationships, talking about your aunt’s collard greens with the audience before launching into the stratosphere of extraordinary technique and complex harmonies. 

5)   You honor and respect the elders, who in turn guide the youth in their role as culture bearers. 

6)   Your people greet strangers as they pass, people in offices talk like people instead of machines and enjoy a friendly conversation. 

Shall I go on? Your architecture, your alluring charisma, your waterways, your living history, your distinctive cuisine, your extravagant moods (the weather!), the overhanging live oaks, the song of the mockingbird and the biggest spiders I’ve ever seen. If you can hold out against the rising seas, I will be back!

All my love to you!

3 comments:

  1. Hello Friends.. I am Preeti Sinha from Udaipur Escorts & Udaipur Call Girls Services. We have many types Escort Service in Udaipur who giving you fully satisfaction & Relaxation with whole body or mind.

    Udaipur Escort
    Udaipur Escorts
    Udaipur Escort Service
    Udaipur Call Girls

    UDAIPUR ESCORT
    UDAIPUR ESCORTS
    UDAIPUR ESCORT SERVICE
    UDAIPUR CALL GIRLS

    Myself Divya Sharma from Indore Escort Service. I am Providing High Profile Indore Escort. We offers many types lovely I Indore Escort & Indore Call Girls. We are giving fully satisfaction & Relaxation from whole body. We giving exciting Services to fun and Enjoyment. If you want to take special love and enjoy then book your dream girls to visit my website:-

    Indore Escort
    Indore Escorts
    Indore Escort Service
    Indore Call Girls

    Do you want to ful fun with your dream Call girls in Jaipur then Miss Jeshika providing you High Profile Jaipur Escort Service. You take special moments with Miss Jeshika in Jaipur Escorts Service.

    JAIPUR ESCORT
    JAIPUR ESCORTS
    JAIPUR ESCORT SERVICE
    JAIPUR CALL GIRLS

    Welcome to High Profile Jaipur Escorts Agency. Our Jaipur Escorts Agency have high profile call girls in Jaipur who providing Luxury Escort Service in Jaipur to giving you fully energetic Service in Jaipur.

    JAIPUR ESCORT
    JAIPUR ESCORTS
    JAIPUR ESCORT SERVICE
    JAIPUR CALL GIRLS

    ReplyDelete
  2. http://espaniolfildena.com/ espaniol fildena
    http://espaniolfildena.com/ espaniolfildena.com
    https://fildenaespana.com/ fildenaespana.com
    https://fildenaespana.com/fildena-efectos/ fildenaespana.com
    https://cenforce-espanol.com/fildena-espanol.html fildena-espanol
    http://espaniolfildena.com/fildena-100/ fildena-100

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.