Archive for 2009

The bard of the Bayou St John’s annual holiday poem

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Tight-ends of Comfort and Joy

‘Twas the night before Christmas in Faubourg-St. John

And not a creature was stirring, off the bayou or on—

Not a tweet from a bird, not a flick from a fish,

Not a twitter through cable or satellite dish.

The cowboy whose dog-leash had lassoed the gator,

The special-needs ducklings whose meals, fully catered,

Were crashed by the nutria looting our shores,

The half-sunken castaway crafts without oars,

The boards that neglected to clear the storm drain

Of Bayou-St. John during record-high rains,

The jobless who’d jump at this no-brainer gig,

And folks with the virus traced back to the pig:

All of them dreamt on this Christmas Eve Night

Of fifty-three men dressed in black and gold tights.

Then just as I swallow some milk and Lunesta

And climb into bed for a long winter’s rest, a

Chanting arises outside my front gate

So I fly down the stairwell—and who should await?

It’s a Who-ville of Who-Dats—Who-Elvis, Who-Moses,

The Gris-Gris- and Whistle-Man striking Who-poses,

Who-Voo-doo-, Parade-, Drag-, and Debutante-Queens,

But every last one shares a common Who-theme:

These Who Dats who buy votive candles at Rouse’s,

Who bury St. Joseph to help sell their houses,

Who stand by their home-team from season to season

Are led by a Faith that defies simple reason.

On St. Joseph’s altars along St. John’s banks,

They lay out their famous who-offerings of thanks:

Polenta, bread pudding, Shrimp Creole, Red beans,

And hundreds of dishes from different cuisines,

Then pray for the Long-shots, their signature strength

(Remember these Who Dats were once called the Aints!)

Beseeching the Saint of Lost Causes, Who-Jude

To deliver lost Woods with the escorts he wooed;

To appeal on be-half of mom Kate plus her Eight

Reduced by Dad Jon and his multiple mates;

To save Luv-guv Sanford in hot Buenos Aires

With Ave Marias (known here as Hail Marys).

They pray for the people who’ve grown so shortsighted

By fame that they’d dine with the Pres uninvited,

Or orchestrate stunts where balloons go adrift,

Or seize center-stage from that cute Taylor Swift.

But just as they pause for a moment of silence

The prayer-circle suddenly shakes with such violence,

Their bids for divine interventions fall flat!

And they jump from their huddle, demanding, “Who Dat?”

Their stage has been ambushed by Cowboys in cleats—

And a Grinch has dealt Who-ville its single defeat!

“Do you hear what I hear?” asks a Who in the night.

Then, Hark!  With a Tail-back as big as a kite

Come Tight Ends of Comfort and Joy softly tingling;

Meachem and Marques, Pierre and Bell jingling;

In the lane are a Harper and Sharper a-listenin’;

In the meadow’s a Red-Nose-tackle a-glistenin’.

“Do you see what I see?” asks a little Who-child.

And, lo, Guards and Centers have been reconciled!

“Be, Joyful,” they cry, “All ye nation–arise!”

And forthwith a Starship streaks down from the skies,

Three Wise Men—Brees, Payton, and Williams—on hand;

“Up, Blitzers!  On, Blockers!  Up, up!” they command,

And into the Stardust flies Destiny’s Team

Towards the epic homestretch of their Superbowl Dream.

© Stephany Lyman       New Orleans, 24 December  2009

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

I woke this morning around 4:30 – it’s the first time that Tin starts rustling in his crib and once I hear him, I don’t go back to sleep. Which means that by nighttime, I’m falling on my face. We have a video monitor that we keep in the bathroom – it’s great to watch him get up and then put himself back to sleep. Of course, I’m looking at him right now and he’s supposed to be asleep and he is up then down.

I’m putting together a Christmas playlist to burn to a CD for our friends, whose house we are going to tonight to enjoy a traditional German goose dinner complete with a puppet show that her mother, in from Germany, will put on for the kids. Our contribution to the table is a pistachio tort – a recipe that our friends brought back from their wine trip to Italy, but which we found perfected in Marcella Hazan’s cookbook. We’re going to dress Tin up as Santa Claus again just because he looks so darn cute as Santa.

Christmas day we plan to head to the French Quarter – we’re hoping for a continuation of the beautiful weather, albeit it began to rain yesterday afternoon and it is supposed to get colder – by that I mean chilly, not midwest cold (THANK GOD).

Then we begin interviewing for nannies to come watch Tin starting February when we both will need to get some work done. It’s been a little challenging to juggle work, Tin, and everything else that requires attention like dogs – we came home to Wolfie’s back legs giving out on her and T is bringing her in today to hopefully get some relief for her. The garden is missing my touch. Forget about the hole in the ceiling in the kitchen – where the water came through for the third time!

It’s all good.

Thank heaven for aunties!

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Today at the stroke of noon, we got a package from Amazon, my friend who lost her daughter last year sent a box of a zillion wipes and a huge box of Pampers. Hours later, another packaged arrived in the arms of a friend who lost her son this year: a zillion outfits for Tin.

How can life give you such heartache and joy simultaneously?

It’s really a count your blessings because every minute you have is a minute that counts. What are you doing right now? Are you grateful for the gift of friendship? The gift of a child? The gift of love?

Oh thank heaven for little boys

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

A friend across the bayou came by and gave me her Moby to walk Tin around in, it almost simulates them being in your belly and it holds him real close to me which is a feeling I love. We went out for a walk to hear the wind chimes under the large oak tree by the big lake in City Park. The weather was delightful (not frightful) and Loca came with us. We stood under the chimes and listened to their music in the gentle breeze and Tin looked up at the huge hanging chimes and I looked down at him and I felt like I was having an out of body experience. Magical.

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We walked around the big lake, rounded the sculpture garden, and in back of the musuem Tin started falling asleep so Loca and I continued on our merry way as usual but went to see the new big lawn that has been put in with bench swings and thick palms all around the perimeter. As we crossed over to the playground by the lagoon, we ran into an old friend and I sat to chat and watch the children play while Tin slept on my chest.

Then I saw the first boy that I ever fell in love with and my heart soared to see him. He’s 10 now, and tall like a reed, and has the same soulful eyes. I introduced Tin, my son, and then Loca, Tin and I made our way home to the bayou, to the LaLa, to our life that is now, but I watched in my mind’s eye the part of my life that was then and as we walked I told Tin something that I have learned – that life is short, but it is oh so wide.

As my life story unfolds

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

A friend wrote me out of the blue when she had been on my mind equally these last weeks. She ended her note with:

thanks for filling me in, even if only highlights.  I’m sure it doesn’t always seem like it to you, but take it from one who only has a talent for observation — you have a talent for life, and it’s a wonderful thing.

Snowstorms – pishaw

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

It’s about 70 degrees here today in New Orleans with the sun shining bright and Tin and I went for a walk to see Aunt Beth and try out the Moby wrap that Marcella lent me. It cocoons the baby next to you and it is just wonderful. You carry him like a little frontal papoose. I would love nothing more than to wander and re-explore New Orleans in 70 degrees with Tin strapped to me.

That would be the life!

As for snow – forgetaboutit.

Caught red handed

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

I noticed trash strewn in City Park a couple of times lately and this morning learned the culprit – CROWS. Two big fat black crows dragging trash across the lawn to peck at.

To my work husband on his departure

Monday, December 21st, 2009

A decade has gone
Swift as spring, gold as autumn
Smell you already

R&B

Tin’s mom

Monday, December 21st, 2009

A friend sent an email the other day and she said from now on I’d have the honor of being called Tin’s mom. I keep thinking about that as I look at this little boy who has me wrapped around his finger.

My brother called and said that he was speaking to my sister in law and he told her, “I know the little boy’s life has changed but I wonder how Rachel will change now.”

Well, doesn’t that all remain to be seen? Right now, I have T1, T2, Loca, Wolfie, Bam Bam and lots of reason to celebrate the holidays. I sent this photo to a client of mine and he wrote back, “He has your same smile!” I do believe I see the resemblance.

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In the company of women

Monday, December 21st, 2009

The lesbian community in Bayou St. John is expanding as two babies are due in 2010 and Tin arrived on a wing and a prayer. Meanwhile, some friends dropped by to see Tin in his Santa outfit and stayed to watch his bath time. I thought it was just me who was entertained by him in the sink but it obviously holds wide appeal.