One February long ago, in another year of budget cuts, I went out to Los Angeles on business and flew back on a Saturday. Like today it was Valentine’s Day and Carnival season. My plane was filled entirely with post Louisianians (many such live in Los Angeles), going home. Some were already dressed for the festivities and were planning to surprise their families. I remember particularly an old man from Marais Street in a tailored red suit. He had diamond eyes and golden teeth, and his luggage was a cardboard box.
Back in town I wandered aimlessly through the crowds. A float throwing stuffed animals passed by and threw one directly at me. When I caught it I realized it was not an animal at all, but a large, plush red heart. I kept this heart for a long time.
*
The Oshun parade was last night and I had intended to be there, but I was sidetracked. As I drove in rough Maringouin traffic I put on a random CD, and it turned out to be Arlo Guthrie on a song I had not heard since before Katrina. I listened to the lyrics and could hardly believe how well some of them fit. Good morning, American, how are you? Don’t you know me? I’m your native son.
But it is the line about changing cars at Memphis I can no longer handle. “Halfway home, we’ll be there by morning.” It is true that coming down from Chicago, when you reach Memphis you are halfway home. But now there are so many people who will not be here by morning. I love New Orleans and I want everyone to come home.
Axé..
coldhearted scientist وداد 
I’m fond of this song but never thought of it in this context before, thanks.
(links to the song didn’t work for some reason)
Thanks for catching that about the links! They were to different versions, and nicely chosen if I do say myself, but I’m not going to undertake an exact reconstruction. My God though, how I wish the city would come back.
Think of it this way: you are helping to keep the city in everyone’s thoughts. I have been looking forward to your posts about Mardi Gras parades and other things, and I’ll bet I’m not the only one.
Oh Lord … that means I’ll really have to go out … I’ve got a deadline March 5 so I was going to try to be virtuous. But I’ll go out. Fortunately I had already decided to repost some comments from the 2006 Mardi Gras, which was really brilliant and the last fantastic Mardi Gras I ever had … so yes, we will do something for Mardi Gras, seriously … I have in fact gone to the Krewe de Vieux parade, and not posted on it, so I can do that. Gracias, Undine!
And I’ve also already been to the King’s party of one of the krewes … although it was pretty unremarkable, very Republican and so on, as those events tend to be. Hmm. But I will make an effort in this direction, and as Natasha advises in the direction of mystery … after all, at Carnival, one is masked! And there’s a parade about 2 hours from now, I’m going.
I love that song. And I hope you enjoy the parade. I wish I had curtailed some of my December/January travel to go down for Mardi Gras this year. It has been many years since I’ve been and if my plans go forward I won’t have the income for that kind of travel for years to come.
2006 was the time to be here! I just found this video of Willie Nelson singing that song at Bacchus that year. I WAS IN THAT CROWD and I saw this in person!!!
One of my regrets is that I have never been to New Orleans. My best friend here grew up there.
Ah, but N.O. is a place you *really* need to come and stay for a while to get it / get into it … it is a lot more opaque than Mexico (for instance) and it is now only a shadow of itself (despite continuing to be real). But: I can turn you onto a $300 a week vacation house in a good area !!! And a good $75 a night B&B !!!
City of New Orleans is my 6-year-old’s favorite song these days – he got it from a CD of train songs and walks around the house belting out the chorus.