NOLA's in my heart

And always will be

I’m not sure exactly where in the French Quarter this photo was taken, but the strangely deserted nature of it was the result of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021. It wasn’t my introduction to the city—that happened in pre-Katrina New Orleans, back in the early days of this century—but it was the first in a series of visits that I’ve made there as my daughter is completing her undergraduate studies.

The New Orleans mask I’m wearing was an early souvenir of visiting there, and I’m sure that it’s vanished over the years since then. I sometimes think about the vendor that I bought the mask from, and the rest of the people who make their living in the city, catering to the whims of tourists like me who come down for a few days of frivolity and good times, which are so easy to find on its streets and so elusive almost anywhere else.

The streets of the French Quarter—Ground Zero for the toursists to NOLA—are generally packed with people and all of the sounds, sights, smells, and life that they bring along with them. I’ve probably been to New Orleans a dozen times over the past four years, which might not be much for some people but to others—who haven’t been there once and might not ever see it before they leave this world—it’s a privilege beyond description. In fact, I’m going down there in a few days, and am looking forward to my first dining experience at the much-loved Commander’s Palace in the Garden District.

COVID, hurricanes, and all manner of unfortunate events have beset New Orleans through the years and now, regrettably, there’s been a terrorist attack on a night that was supposed to be filled with revelry and hope for the year ahead. The details aren’t clear yet, but it is known that more than a dozen people who walked onto the streets near where that picture was taken didn’t return to wherever they had come from. It’s a terrible tragedy, without question.

I grieve for those people, who I never met, and also for everyone who considers New Orleans to be their happy place, and a respite from this world that doesn’t always seem willing to share in their good times. To bring sorrow and grief to such a place,—which already has its share of problems, if you’re willing to look for them—seems needlessly cruel. And yet, changes will necessarily have to come to prevent something like this from happening again. Defenses, both physical and psychological, will be put into place. But the city will go on, because the forces of violence and fear must not be allowed to carry the day.

One of my favorite places to eat in New Orleans—and there are too many of them to list here—is Central Grocery & Deli located on Decatur Street. In August of 2021, after my daughter had been on campus for less than two weeks, Hurricane Ida came ripping through, and left many structures damaged. Central Grocery suffered extensive damage, to the point where they had been shut down until just the past few weeks.

Now that they have reopened, you better believe I’ll be picking up a muffaletta before I leave town, and a jar of their unique and delicious olive salad to put on whatever sandwiches and pastas I can. They came back, and that deserves some recognition.

Overcoming adversity is what New Orleans will do, and I’m writing this to remind myself—and anyone else who might need to hear it—that this is going to happen. I can taste the muffalettas and the beignets and all the other good stuff already.

Until next time…..