The posts may come a bit slower this week. I'm going out of town, but not the kind of girlfriend-getaway-to-a-fabulous-destination kind of out of town. I'm headed back to Louisiana to say goodbye to my beloved Uncle James. I came home Friday night to the sad news that he had passed. Today, the mind numbing feeling that goes with this loss is still here, but there is comfort that he is not in pain anymore. My Uncle James was more than just an uncle. He and my aunt Maggie were the Hotel Chez James & Maggie of New Orleans, Louisiana for many years. Family and friends traveled to New Orleans to enjoy Jazz Fest, Bayou Classic, Mardi Gras, Essence and any reason to be in Nawlins' and stay with them.
I can recall many trips to Nawlins' just to sip Sazerac, Beignets and Cafe au Lait from Cafe du Monde, Hurricanes, Bloody Mary's, walks on Bourbon and Canal Streets, dinner at Cochon, Dooky Chase, Casamento's, Commander's Palace, and Jacqui Imo's. Their home has been a haven to me, family, and friends. When they lost everything to Hurricane Katrina they packed up and headed to Leesville to be near family - always with their heads held high. I didn't think I would have to return to Louisiana in less than 30 days, but duty calls.
You may ask how can she find beauty in his death? I find it in the way he loved his wife and son. I mean the kind of love that lasted over 51 years of a good marriage and raising a fine young man (my cousin is a Professor just like his dad - smart, kind, and nice). The beauty of his memory when I needed a good therapy session (he was a Psychologist) or the beauty in knowing that Aunt Maggie never had a daughter, but she loved me like I was hers and gave me her trusted recipes for Oyster Dressing and Stuffed Mirliton's.
I remember years ago when I debated studying abroad in Paris and my family was not keen on me going that far away for weeks. He called me and said "Sugar, get your butt on that plane. Your family will get past it and if they don't it's your life. You are a good girl - go; go to Paris and make me and your family proud. I want you to eat lots of great food and drink tons of great wine. (I happily did both). Enjoy life because it's a gift." I booked my ticket the next day and it was one of the best lectures I've ever received.
I will try to post as often as I can, but if the week feels empty, remember so do I. I will be back next week better than ever. Charge it to my head and not my heart. Thanks for understanding. I love you all. Mwah!
At times like this e.e. cummings always touches me.
i carry your heart with me by e.e. cummings
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)
I can recall many trips to Nawlins' just to sip Sazerac, Beignets and Cafe au Lait from Cafe du Monde, Hurricanes, Bloody Mary's, walks on Bourbon and Canal Streets, dinner at Cochon, Dooky Chase, Casamento's, Commander's Palace, and Jacqui Imo's. Their home has been a haven to me, family, and friends. When they lost everything to Hurricane Katrina they packed up and headed to Leesville to be near family - always with their heads held high. I didn't think I would have to return to Louisiana in less than 30 days, but duty calls.
You may ask how can she find beauty in his death? I find it in the way he loved his wife and son. I mean the kind of love that lasted over 51 years of a good marriage and raising a fine young man (my cousin is a Professor just like his dad - smart, kind, and nice). The beauty of his memory when I needed a good therapy session (he was a Psychologist) or the beauty in knowing that Aunt Maggie never had a daughter, but she loved me like I was hers and gave me her trusted recipes for Oyster Dressing and Stuffed Mirliton's.
I remember years ago when I debated studying abroad in Paris and my family was not keen on me going that far away for weeks. He called me and said "Sugar, get your butt on that plane. Your family will get past it and if they don't it's your life. You are a good girl - go; go to Paris and make me and your family proud. I want you to eat lots of great food and drink tons of great wine. (I happily did both). Enjoy life because it's a gift." I booked my ticket the next day and it was one of the best lectures I've ever received.
I will try to post as often as I can, but if the week feels empty, remember so do I. I will be back next week better than ever. Charge it to my head and not my heart. Thanks for understanding. I love you all. Mwah!
At times like this e.e. cummings always touches me.
i carry your heart with me by e.e. cummings
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)
