There’s lots to love about New Orleans- Jazzfest and Mardi Gras, Music, Floats, and Big Fun. I’ve had a life long love affair with the city and I became a full time resident almost 5 yeas ago. The recent terror attack on New Year’s Day is heavy on everyone’s mind and many people have questions, thoughts and prayers. A news outlet asked me what the tone of the city was and I responded, “New Orleans locals are so tired. We are over of being called ‘resilient.’ This recent attack was yet another tragedy, on top of trauma, on top of more trauma for the city that care forgot. The Crescent City is full of magical people, but there is only so much that one can hope to really heal when one is consistently being beaten down. Soon we will host both the Superbowl and Mardi Gras for millions of visitors and necessary measures are not fully in place. The city has had numerous building collapses in the past few weeks, several boil water advisories, and now a terrorist attack. I know people hope to hear that we’re holding hands, raising protective energy shields, and surviving off of thoughts and powerful prayers but it just doesn’t seem to be enough.”
But don’t get me wrong I still love New Orleans. Like the song says it’s my home, and I hope it always will be. I love it so much, I wrote it a love letter.
Love Letter to New Orleans
All some people see are beads and bullets.
All some people see undesirables and undercurrents.
All some people see are storms and strife.
But that’s not why we stay.
We don’t stay because we’re resilient (wtf choice do we have.)
We don’t stay because we’re stupid (it takes a special kind of smarts to stay afloat here.)
We don’t stay because we drunk ( shut up that’s a lifestyle choice.)
But that’s not why we cry.
Tears can be wet like the Mississippi mud that clings to your short hairs.
Tears can be old weeping for a memory buried in the skin.
Tears can be cathartic like a confession no one is prepared to hear.
But that’s not why we dance.
A Dance can lift you up like a second line to the stars.
A Dance can turn you around like a Fait do do rocking you to another dimension.
A Dance can wake the skeleton in your closet because they have all the moves.
But that’s not why we grieve.
There’s no right way to grieve this isn’t up for debate.
New Orleans will keep shining despite all the hate.
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