three years ago, my family and myself moved to new orleans on nov 1. on oct 31, in 1.5 weeks, we are leaving. kinda strange, kinda cool. also, after being here only a short time i wrote a little piece on my initial thoughts of new orleans. i really dont know what i said, nor do i care to revisit it. i will just talk about albeit briefly on our life in new orleans.
new orleans is fucked up. i have never come across a place i love so dearly, but also hate w a little bit of passion. its a scammy ass town, but its also a town filled with life, and love and hope. the scamminess is in it politics, but really what city isnt filled with that? still, i believe its a little to scammy for its own good. thats truly the only thing i hate about it, but if you play by the rules you may never have to see that side of it. sure there’s crime, my house was broken into, and cars rummaged through repeatedly. the latter, our own fault for forgetting to lock our doors. the former, inexcusable. still, i love this city, and i, of course, am not the only one. there’s a sense of pride that i have just never seen/felt anywhere else, not even chicago. i even feel this pride, cause new orleans is a glorious city, filled with some truly amazing people. sure, i wasnt here for katrina, and my stint here was only three years, but still its hard not to get roped into this feeling. sure, people bitch and complain, but ask most people living here, and they wouldnt want to live anywhere else, myself included.
i truly will cherish my last days here in new orleans, and look back very fondly on my time spent here. i would say anyone looking for a place to move, new orleans should be near the top of your list. sure there’s always the threat of a hurricane, sure the streets flood with only an inch of rain, but once you get here, it gets in you. i have tried to explain to other people why i love new orleans, and its very very hard to explain. all i usually end up saying is that it gets under skin and eventually hits your soul, if you let it. i am very sad to leave, and may even shed a tear. yes, i am a pussy that way.
as of oct 31, we are moving to baton rouge, just a scant 80 miles up interstate 10. the wife has taken a job as an executive sous chef at a new renaissance hotel in baton rouge. now, if it werent much of a pay raise she wouldnt have taken it, but it was and thus our move. the only good thing is that a lot more bands, oddly enough, come through baton rouge than they do down here in new orleans. weird to me, but thats just the way it is.
in closing, thank you new orleans, thank you to the folks i have met in person, and maybe just online. y’all have been awesome, welcoming, and truly made me feel like a part of something even if ever so slightly.
good luck man!
interesting to hear your thoughts on new orleans. i really hope everything works out for you, my friend.
Had always had a plan in the back of my mind to take a trip down that way to catch up and see New Orleans (haven’t been there since I was a kid). Oh well, maybe some day we’ll do it in Baton Rouge. Good luck with the move.
The Red Stick is fabulous! You’re gonna love it! Tons of great shows there.
Damn, cant believe I’ve been reading yer site for the last three years. I remember when you first got there. Anyhow, good luck in BR.
Don’t know if you saw this or not:
http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/richard-buckner-concert/20055107-5855.html?utm_source=NL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=111019DT
Moving sucks. No matter when, no matter where, it just sucks.
Good Luck.
Regards, Dave.
A poignant and honest post, G. Good luck with your move, guys. I will continue reading when you’re up the road.
nice post – I know how you feelin’ there. I stayed a little while longer but I still miss it. wonderful city. Baton Rouge well, least it ain’t far from New Orleans is all I’m sayin ’bout that. I’m movin’ again myself before years out – pain in the ass is what that is all the best with it.