tomorrow will mark two weeks of living in new orleans. this summer has been one without roots, full of travel in cars and planes and canoes, the exact idea of living here has not sunk in. i am technically familiar with this town- i have visited here countless times, both before the storm and after- i knew this was where i wanted to live even before i had a concrete reason to or even the ability to leave athens. but now, now, now i find myself having to navigate these broken streets in the opressive heat, and am frankly intimidated by how much i do not know, both geographically and culturally. and true to the amount of travelling i have done in the past three months, as well as the sudden realization that i do not have to return to school, i am done, i have degrees and qualifications and no need to feel hemmed in by an obligatory schedule now, i am already plotting and planning escapes.
about a week ago, paul and i went down to vaughan's for drinks with friends. the power had gone out in the 9th again- the heat wave was too much, everyone had their air conditioners to the max, and the whole neighorhood blew the transformers. driving through the streets- the streetlights were out, cars went at a crawl. everyone on street corners, little babies awake, the only lights being candles, kerosene lamps and the sweep of carlights. the bars were still open, and full, beers being the only thing cold, everyone coming together to commiserate on the heat and the city.
i think it was then i first realized that i could become part of the city, not just love it as an observant outsider, but as a citizen, a resident.
that, and the pineapple mint julep ice cream and the cajun cremery.
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