played New Orleans last night and actually got a chance to walk around a bit before the show. the venue was too far from the French Quarter to walk, being that it was probably 95 degrees with about 70% humidity. as well, the Quarter is usually the only part of New Orleans I'm ever able to visit anyway. instead, I strolled through the warehouse district and came upon the Canal Street Historic District. I remember that this was where most of the reporting took place during Hurricane Katrina. I recalled the images of National Guard tanks rolling through the streets, military commanders shouting orders, troops with rifles at the ready. like so many, I was glued to the tube for the weeks that followed that horrible calamity. I still get worked up just thinking about the nightmare that was the Bush administration and just how blatant their disregard was for helping the people of Louisiana. here in Baton Rouge, my friend told me that they went from a city of 300,000 people to a city of 1,000,000 almost overnight. that's unimaginable! oddly enough, I had been in New Orleans not even a week before Katrina and had returned only a couple months later, after the city had slowly begun to open its doors again. I was with Ernie Halter and my cousin Johnny. the 3 of us decided to drive through the 9th Ward on our way out of town. I've never been to, seen or visited a battlefield, much less right after a battle, but after seeing what we saw that day, I can only begin to imagine what kind of horror must befall those in the face of such an unfortunate turn of events. my heart broke for the people of New Orleans. my heart broke for people everywhere that, for some reason or another, find themselves in the throes of our society's underclass. when I saw the levy and the inevitable path of destruction to be caused by its impending breach, I could see it as nothing other than what it was, a controlled extermination. wow. I'm no conspiracy theorist but sometimes you have to tear through the rhetoric and see things for how they really appear to those most affected, or in this case, displaced altogether.
I saw something else as I was walking last night, something I've only heard and read about or seen in movies and pictures; a "jazz funeral." what I thought was merely a 5 piece brass band playing in the street for change turned out to be the beginning of a parade of people all celebrating the life of a loved one. the "second line" as it's referred to, was a glorious host of family and friends, smiling and shining as they started down the street, rejoicing in the passing of someone truly special. I mean they had the Police escort and EVerything. it was truly something special to see. I decided that when I pass, I'd like for my friends and family to have one of these in my honor. it really seems like such a wonderful way to remember someone, especially someone passionate about the joy of music. I'd like to think that's what I've been so far.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and fulfilling weekend.
namaste,
Tony