I Miss New Orleans

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? And miss it each night and day...I know I'm not wrong. The feeling's getting stronger...the longer I stay away....Those lyrics summed up my longing to re-visit New Orleans. I had not returned since Hurricane Katrina had struck in 2005.  But in early May,  I journeyed back to the city so often referenced in print and on film. I finally made it to Preservation Hall and was initiated into the blessed audiences who have listened to The Jazz Band of all jazz bands. I gazed at the beautiful ornate architecture found throughout this beloved city. Accompanied by close friends, I also made the trek to the once abandoned lower 9th ward. It was an emotional tour. You are overcome with appreciation for the re-building and apparent growth. And your heart sinks when you see an empty lot where a home once stood. You can almost hear the laughter and music that once filled the walls that no longer exist. Over four thousand homes were lost here. And you can almost hear the cries for help that seemed to be lost in the night. You see buildings that have the faded red markings from search/rescue crews. I saw evidence that one person stepped up to help in a big way. Actor Brad Pitt loves New Orleans and he reacted to the disaster with love and innovation. He created the Make It Right Foundation dedicated to helping to rebuild New Orleans' lower 9th ward. This foundation partnered with several architectural firms to design eco-friendly unique affordable homes. Their work is ongoing. I saw some of the homes and they look fantastic. This link will allow you to read more about this foundation and donate to the cause. http://www.makeitrightnola.org/ I saw the homes and the families and heard the sounds of the rebirth of the lower 9th ward. I also heard positive news about the musicians' village in the upper 9th ward and I include a link to their work as well. http://www.nolamusiciansvillage.org/ The main thing to know is that the work goes on. New Orleans stands tall but help is still needed. We see so much on constant televised news that we seem to react to a hurricane or tornado or tsunami and then the thought of it fades away and we move on. If you love New Orleans then keep loving it and show your love. Your visit will help them. Your donations will help them. They show their appreciation and gratitude. They have chosen to be grateful rather than bitter. They have risen above the floods. They have risen above the disappointment in how they were treated by other human beings. Drew Brees and The New Orleans Saints helped them rise. Brad Pitt and his Make It Right Foundation are helping them rise. Ellen Degeneres ,Steven Spielberg ,Oprah Winfrey, Harry Connick,Jr. and many other celebrities stepped up to the plate and gave and continue to give. I applaud them all. The seafood, muffalettas and beignets still taste great. There are enough fried oysters for everyone. The music is still the best. The art. The history. The buildings. The food. The people. Whether your New Orleans comes from the pages of a John Grisham,Tennesee Williams,William Faulkner or Anne Rice novel...it is calling you back. Maybe you have always wondered where Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler went while honeymooning in New Orleans. Countless films have shown us life in The Big Easy. Everyone has a favorite. My favorite is the real thing. You can watch an episode of Treme or you can sit on a streetcar and taste the hot sauce and smell the jambalaya. I am ready to return. It was the perfect place for a reunion. It is restorative. On Mother's Day, two female friends and I were touring the city and as we walked, we passed businessmen,street musicians,bellhops,chefs,strangers ...all men of New Orleans and without exception each one of them cheerfully wished us a happy mothers day. The friendliness and sense of community was there every day. People smiling. People making music. People laughing. People living. I miss it.  Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans...

Oprah's Odyssey Has Just Begun

Oh--oh--oh--Oprah. Overall she gave us GREAT television. Onions never made us cry as much as Oprah. Once or twice or a hundred times, my 87 year old mother has said: " I wish Oprah would adopt me". Other talk shows provide other things for us but none of them quite like Oprah. Our afternoons are now void of the anticipation of what today's show will bring. Old friends like Maria and Gayle let us listen in on their conversations and ride along on their road trips. Ostracized for her beef with the meat industry, Oprah stood tall and became stronger.  Only Oprah could bring us reunions with The Sound of Music and The Color Purple casts. Oceans were crossed with Oprah. Opening our hearts to hear Mattie Stepanek, Maya Angelou and other guests helped us to better our afternoons and ourselves. Over the years we came to know Suze,Mehmet,Phil, Nate,Peter, Cristina and Carson. Objects known as her favorite things took on mystical status. Opinions,laughter,tears and observations filled the Harpo studio each day. Occasions like her legends weekend made us wish we could honor our personal legends in like fashion. Overjoyed for her we were. Over-the-top gestures like cars for everyone in the audience made us happy for each recipient. Officially our voice she became. Obviously she has left her mark in television history and in our hearts. On to new adventures she must go.

Two And A Half Men

The following "class acts" blog will be about men. There are plenty of female class acts to write about and I shall write about them in the future. They are too high in number to list but I will hit as many of them as possible. The decision to write about men resulted from the onslaught of disappointments we have had in the news lately from men in the headlines. We have been collectively disappointed by politicians,athletes,actors,authors and others. The crimes have varied from infidelity, plagiarism,doping, racism, domestic-abuse, insider-trading, substance abuse, juvenile behavior and reckless conduct to habitual lying. These men have hurt their families,fans,constituents,readers and viewers. They will never again be trusted. They will never again be respected. They neither comprehend or possess integrity. Their excuses have fallen on deaf ears and their lack of responsibility has caused too much hurt. I have several examples of class acts,including my father,who are deceased but I will address two and a half living examples today.

Thankfully University of Georgia Head Football Coach Mark Richt lives in the very same world as the negative headline-grabbers and  he exhibits character and class. Today's headlines announce that he and his wife have sold their lake home. It was their collective decision motivated by their desire to give to those less fortunate. I could give you countless examples of times when Coach Richt took the high road. He encourages his players to give back. Coach Richt is also a family man. His family consists of his wife,three sons and one daughter. Two of their children are adopted from the Ukraine. His family reflects his philosophy about reaching out. He is in a constant state of giving. His attitude reflects one of sportsmanship. He would never laugh at an opponent's lack of athletic ability or ridicule another man for being moved to tears. He isn't that guy. He never forces his faith on you nor does he hesitate to talk about it if asked. His players know that he expects them to "finish the drill" both in the classroom and on the field.  As a graduate of the University of Georgia, I am honored that he is our coach and a leader for our student/athletes. He is respected throughout the conference and NCAA. We are so very fortunate to have a class act leading the Bulldog Nation. I am always honored to be in the same room with him at UGA meetings. There is no concern about what he might say or do. I know what class looks like. It looks like Mark Richt.

Frank is the father of three daughters and one son. He is the grandfather of ten delightful children. He has been married since 1965. It is now 2011 and yes,he has been faithfully married to the love of his life since 1965. He didn't take any breaks and re-find himself. He is a retired physician(Ob-Gyn) and served as a Senior Vice-President on a local hospital board for many years. He has the respect of his colleagues,peers,former patients and fellow community members. Frank has close friends and is never without time for them. He exhibits a discipline that reflects his strong faith and sense of ethics. He believes in hard work whether it be in the classroom or operating room and he conveys that belief to his family. It is his availability and presence that steer the ship that is his family. In familial roles including son,father,brother,husband,grandfather,father-in-law and uncle, he displays patience,love,respect and a quiet strength. It is evident that his family is his first priority. I know what class looks like. It looks like Frank.

The half man I refer to is the boy or young man any of us know. It is up to us to show them what it means to be a class act. I know several young men who are on the right path and show respect to others. They participate in charitable projects and exhibit kindness and compassion on a daily basis. They are sensitive to the needs and feelings of others and they would never use hurtful language or communicate bigotry or hate. They are avid readers and creative thinkers. They will make the world a better place. They know what class looks like because they have seen it.

There are several other men who come to mind as fine examples of what it means to be a class act. Rather than describe each of them, I will tell you what characteristics they share. Inevitably they put their family first. Family can include close friends or whomever you consider family. They are loyal. They are faithful. They are ever-present. Selfish is not in their vocabulary. They give of their time without hesitation. You can trust them. They know that once they have lost your trust they will never fully regain it and they treasure that trust. They are men who possess an inherent sense of integrity that you have seen grow though the years. They often have a handy sense of humor and a strong work ethic. They are not only classy but fun to be around.

I know what class looks like. I just don't see enough of it around. Fear not America. They exist. The true class acts do not see themselves as the exception. Sadly, they are. Let's join together and see what we can do to change that. Only then will we be winning.

Mother's Day Has Come And Gone Too Quickly

Mother's Day has come and gone. Therein lies the problem. For 24 hours we celebrate our moms with the regal attention they deserve. We thank them for all things great and small they have given to us throughout our lives. We thank them for what they have done for us. It is always about us. On Mother's Day we give them much more attention than most other days. We may or may not actually plan in advance and purchase special cards and gifts and have them delivered in a timely manner. I am happy to report that I planned in advance. It is a lesson I learned from my mother. She is the most generous individual I have ever known. Her generosity is not saved for special holidays. She is in a constant state of giving. She possesses a strong work ethic and amazing sense of humor. She is a member of the greatest generation. She works hard and never complains. Her unconditional love is something to be relied upon and treasured. She was an unbelievably loving wife and daughter. She is the matriarch of our family and reigns in that role with the strength,love,compassion,intellect and humor that I witnessed in her mother. As much as she loved Bear Bryant, I assume she will approve if I call her a Mama Bear. I thought her love of her children was insurmountable  and it is. But her love of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren is a thing to behold. To simply say that she loves all of us is an understatement. She holds the title of second-mom and adopted mom to many. She is the favorite aunt,cousin,neighbor,relative and mentor to others. She has worked in many positions from her first job at a drugstore in Birmingham,Alabama to her work during WWII in Birmingham plants initially at Rheem on a war project working with oily messy shell casings to her next position at the Bechtel-McCone airplane modification plant in the same city. She worked there on the B29 superfortress bombers pulling out substandard non-fireproof wiring from the planes. This work at these plants by women including my mother resulted in the nickname: Rosie the Riveter. She worked in many other jobs including her managing and directing of the college bookstore for decades. But no job was messier,harder or more challenging than that of mother. Nor did she love any job more. She still does. She never complains. She asks for little and deserves much. She is and has always been a good and true friend. She is a wonderful confidante to many. She is loyal and attentive. She is fun. She loves a good road trip. She loves to read,travel and learn. She is a life-long learner. She loves to watch the University of Alabama play football. She loves cats especially her current companion,Sparky. She makes a killer Lane Cake and chicken salad and fried chicken and...the list goes on and on. She is truly religious in the most private, personal and nonjudgmental way. She is a person of tremendous faith who lives by example. She loves movies and television shows and conversations. She loves her hometown of Guin,Alabama and her home state of Alabama and her home in Albany,Georgia. I love to hear her laugh and she loves to laugh. She is my friend. She has my respect,admiration and love. I celebrate her every day.

Bama, Bucklebury and Birthday Blessings

The recent tornadoes devastated the south. Six states were hit hard. At least 326 people were killed.  My home state of Georgia lost lives and suffered tremendous damage. Love and prayers to the victims and survivors of this destruction in those six states and all others that were hit by the storms. Alabama was hit the hardest. University of Alabama students preparing for final exams and upcoming graduation were caught in the path of this horrific storm along with non-student residents of Tuscaloosa. Lives were lost and lives were forever changed. Neighbors here were phoned to check on their adult kids and grandkids in Tuscaloosa. And I just about put out an all points bulletin on one friend's son. Clearly caffeine and the weather channel are a dangerous combination. My mother was born in Marion County, Alabama and that county has 21 dead and 20 missing. But another report lists 29 dead in Hackleburg and 6 in Hamilton. (Therein lies a problem. They still do not know who is missing in so many of these hard-hit areas. An accurate count may not be possible for days to come.) These small towns neighbor Guin, Alabama where my mom was born. Bridgeport suffered damage and it is a neighbor to Stevenson where my father was born. I could list many towns and cities in Alabama but they are,in fact,all neighbors to someone. I watched the twister come through Birmingham on television and began to wonder about my grandparents' old home and landmarks throughout the city. I wondered about cousins too and I called and texted and facebooked. Social networking was successful in this storm. Prayers were said for Rabun County, Georgia and Jackson County, Alabama and Tuscaloosa and Ringgold and the list grew and grew. The heartbreak continues as do the prayers. If you want to give a shout-out to Bama students...hit them with a RTR ( Roll Tide Roll) on your facebook status. You can also give to The American Red Cross. We are fortunate to have doppler radar and the weather channel and warning sirens and phone calls. Heed these warnings. Oh and RTR !

Every bit of minutia that could be judged in regard to the royal wedding was put under a microscope and dissected. A reminder that it WAS Kate and William's wedding so all that mattered was what THEY wanted. I'll say it again. It was Kate and William's wedding. One of the non-news items that received enormous press coverage was the wedding invitation issued to John Haley. He owns and runs The Old Boot Inn in Bucklebury in Berkshire. Kate and William enjoy going to this pub. The pub is in Kate's home town. He seems like a fine bloke. Imagine that. They invited a friend to the wedding. He has not been seen running around with a fascinator on his head . He has not tried to exploit his relationship with the famous patrons of his pub. He seems very friendly and nice. They invited him to their wedding. I feel good about Kate and William. They are quite a beautiful couple. Long live Kate and William and John Haley.

Another birthday has come and gone but the celebration continues. Friends and family have called, written, texted, facebooked, toasted and hugged me. The gift of friendship is a priceless one and one that I do not take for granted. Friends dined with me at many meals throughout the week with more to come through next weekend. Taking time to sit and share a meal and have a conversation is indeed a gift. Fish tacos,baked oysters,steamed shrimp and crab all found their way into the birthday celebration. Good friends,good food and breathtaking sunsets. And laughter...always laughter. A year ago the Gulf of Mexico was in dire straits as a result of the BP oil spill but clear gorgeous water and pure white sands were the backdrop for the party. In fact Mexico Beach never showed signs of damage to this pristine treasure. Yes, I have been blessed.

(*Killer Seafood grouper tacos and key lime pie are a blessing unto themselves. Another gift is the friends I have found there and the place I go "where everybody knows your name". My gift to you is to tell you of this special place and invite you to join the Killer family on Highway 98 in Mexico Beach,Florida.)