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...