Hello, Everyone:

I had the pleasure of spending the Holidays in New Orleans, Louisiana also known as “the Crescent City”. 

I arrived on Christmas Day and left on January 5^th.  When I arrived, the weather was quite warm and humid for December.  Considering that it actually snowed much earlier in New Orleans on December 11, 2008, predicting the weather these days is like “starring into a crystal ball”.  The unseasonably warm weather even adversely affected people in the Northern part of the country when heavy snowfalls melted causing rivers in the Great Lakes area to flood.  I’ll take “the South” weather wise, any day.

Quite naturally, I didn’t get the chance to do everything that I planned but my trip was very enjoyable.  Post Katrina recovery in some residential neighborhoods is still “noticeably spotty” but those who chose to rebuild have done the best job with whatever resources that were at their disposal.  New Orleans has always been a city with an eclectic mixture of both historical architecture and more modern homes.  The newly renovated homes certainly rival anything I’ve seen on the West Coast. Many residents are still very committed to living there and I applaud their dedication.  These people are the “heart and soul of the city” that makes New Orleans “rock”.

I dinned at a few of my favorite restaurants.  To avoid putting on extra weight, I opted to eat my heaviest meal in the middle of the day.  Most of my breakfasts were just a cup of coffee and a piece of fruit.  I just could not get enough of the coffee!  It was absolutely delicious!  As usual, the food was top notch.  New Orleanians really know how to cook as well as mix a fine cocktail.  My martinis were great!

Attending Catholic masses at predominately African American churches was very spiritually uplifting.  When African American cultural sensibilities are incorporated into a mass the experience is very “soulful”.  St. Peter Claver Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe (The International Shrine of St. Jude) are my personal favorites.  Our Lady of Guadalupe conducts a novena in honor of St. Jude Thaddeus after each mass.  St. Jude is “the Saint of Impossible Cases”.  He’s also considered a patron of policeman and fireman.  Frankly, our country and national economy could use all the help it can get.  They also conduct quarterly novenas and accept prayer petitions from all over the world. If you want to know more about St. Jude and St. Peter Claver Churches, their website links are listed below:

Our Lady of Guadalupe/The International Shrine of St. Jude:  http://www.saintjudeshrine.com

St. Peter Claver Church: 

http://www.spclaverchurch.org

Unfortunately, New Orleans, like all large cities has its’ problems combating crime and poverty.  The New Orleans Police department does a very good job policing tourist related areas.  Some critics feel that more should be done but unless local citizens receive more protection from criminal retaliation, compelling witnesses to testify will remain difficult.  For the most part, most of the violent crime seems to still be “Black on Black” involving primary local citizens.  We can only hope and pray that the statistics will improve in this area.

Regardless of its’ ups and downs, New Orleans will always be a “home away from home” to me.  Most of the people I know are hard working, law abiding, taxpaying citizens who know how “to take a lemon and make it into a fine lemonade with an interesting Creole twist”.  Much Love, New Orleans!!!

May Peace Be With All of You,

Sistah Selah