So Phil and I went to Catholic mass yesterday morning at a church called St. Augustins. When I was at work on Friday a woman who does some work for the Fair Housing Action Center came in and we got to talking and I mentioned that I'd just moved here, and she told me I should come to her church because the Blind Boys of Alabama (a gospel group) were going to be singing on Sunday, and that the service would be followed by a second line.
Second lines happen at funerals, weddings, and just celebratory occasions like church services. They are a distinctly New Orleans thing. Imagine this: The Treme brass band, followed by about a hundred people, all dancing with their umbrellas (because it was raining) down the street to Armstrong Park. Most of the trip took place on Rampart St.- a MAJOR road leading downtown, which police vehicles proceded to BLOCK OFF so that this group of people could play their instruments and dance (slowly) along for fifteen or twenty minutes. I mean they just stopped traffic! And second lines are not a rare occurance- they happen all the time here. It says something about people's priorities in this city, and about the pace- no one needs to be somewhere RIGHT NOW. They have time to stop and talk on the corner, to wait for the walk sign, to sit in their car and watch a bunch of people with umbrellas dancing down the street (or do grab an umbrella and dance down the street themselves.)
Phil and I, of course, forgot our umbrella. We got VERY wet. But that was ok, somehow.
At Armstrong park there was a drum circle which we listened to for a while before heading home.
Other events of the weekend:
On Saturday I had my first (good) sno-cone. Sno-cones are also apparently a New Orleans thing. I also explored City Park a bit- I had this idea that I could walk to the lake. Not so much. A, City Park is HUGE, and B, I have no sense of direction and got really disoriented. This also happened the other day when I was in the Quarter and wanted to walk to the river.
These bodies of water elude me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Ms. Han- Bodies of water would elude(?) you as you are not a turtle which, by the way, apparently has an inner compass which directs it to water. You are not so endowed. However, it is my belief that we humans have our own inner compasses, which lead us to the things that sustain and nurture us. But enough philosophy. I like the NOLA brand of life philosophy that you described in your blog. Enjoy this beautiful city and its soggy stream of humanity. I love you. xoxoxoxoxo m.
Hi Han. You can't really have a bad sense of direction, because a) you were our mapper in Paris and San Diego and b) you dad is Walter Adams!!!! Can't wait to see you. Love, Jude.
you didn't tell me the blind boys of alabama were the musical accompaniment...I love them!
oh hannah,
you totally rock!
your description of NOLA and the second line is so fantastic -- i can see and hear it in my head from my (noisy) office in manhattan. i love gospel music, find it so uplifting and genuine. and the pace you talk about is so like new york, right? laid back and hangin. i will tell you that sno-cones have been around phila forever, especially at the jersey shore. also, i think you inherited your sense of direction from your aunt judy. better get yourself a gps, quick!
love you by land and by sea,
bobbie
p.s. i had dinner with becca tonite. she'll be 24 on saturday.
xo
Wow...what an amazing experience you are having. We have just checked in on your adventures for the first time since you arrived at your new home, and were amazed to read of all that has transpired. It seems like your life now is truly an environmental theater piece--We are so inspired by your adventures. So glad Rachel is going to share these scenes with you soon too. Can't wait to see more photos and word pics of all of this. Much love from Karen, Anday and Sophie
Post a Comment