I’m ready
Despite what anyone says I am ready. Today was a good day – I bought a dining table, chairs, coffee table – I found the perfect gift for little A, the toucan returned with a better peck, the day fell into serendipity pretty much to the end.
F says its aplomb you need to master. Or as the master said himself, grace under pressure.
N pointed out the little ducklings in the bayou and said see, spring. And this time I think the pelican has gone.
Rogue sunflowers are appearing everywhere around the city in a bizarre pattern.
I did my best time today in a race – my even better than best – I knew I could do 3 miles no sweat and so once out there I just decided to go for it – under 10 minute miles – that’s great – now if I could do that times two for the Crescent City – that would be great.
I went by Ricca’s to look at shutters and they are so expensive but I wound up in back with this salesman who had to sit down because he has feet problems and I told him about the race and he said you must not smoke? and I said I quit after starting back up after 14 years and he said he could quit anytime and I said honey, then do it. It’s the same farce I had laid out for myself – oh I’m not an addict anymore, I can quit – please – quit. Today is day 11 and I feel better than 11 days ago for certain.
The 2 year old birthday at the bar in the Quarter was typical New Orleans – and nice in its off beatness and bohemian feel – I spoke to J who works at Adlers and she told me about all the beautiful jewelry – then C who just finished a chakras or something like that spiritual course that was given for free because of Katrina – little A played in the planter box with the banana trees and the banana chocolate cake from La Spiga was delicious and V put butterfly candles on the cake and made a sign with her hands of how she was going to get these big old sticks but then (fluttering hands) saw the butterflies – and little A was good and happy the way a 2-year-old should be on his birthday – he played the triangle in his little nazi boots.
Then L and I went to nolafugee.com relaunch at Handsome Willy’s and the boys were oh so cute and the girls in their snappy clothes and the conversation always good – a woman was speaking about going back to her coke habit during the storm – and the music was DJ’d and danceable as it is want to be there – and a good time was had.
Pal’s for a night cap where a man with one tooth missing kept wanting to buy me a drink.
The Welcome
Do you wish to immigrate to my heart? Where are your
papers? What are your purposes?
Are you lost? Are you broken? Come to the chamber of
my heart for safety. Remember the old country. I was not
there. I was waiting for you here.
Do you wish to be naturalized in my arms? Let me instruct
you in the new tongue. Tread softly; Death too first makes
inquiry, then shows the way.
Come, pledge allegiance to my tattered proud flag. Here,
and here only, the streets are paved with gold.
David Joel Friedman