Why Stay?

Recovery is crawling - learning to crawl really. In May the population hit 58% of pre-Katrina levels. Despite that, the murder rate is high. The roads are really bad, likely to crack an axle boot and cost you $350 (can anyone tell me why my car wears boots on its axle? was this a joke?). You wake up sweating, sweat through the day, and go to sleep still sweating. Thinking is officially a physical activity comparable to jogging in this heat. The mosquito population has returned much more quickly than the humans. The big storm didn't seem to scare any of the corrupt politicians straight. And did I mention its hot?

I am really excited to stay. I have been trying to formulate reasons why so that I can share them with people who ask, 'Why stay?'. I haven't come up with a straight answer yet. It lies somewhere in a mishmash of the following; a sense of purpose in helping the recovery effort, a sense of history and being witness to it, being able to walk to the store (despite humidity), the people, the music, there is always a festival to attend, the feeling of old history is always present, the stories that hang on here, and the food. Good golly the food. Just the other day we found out about yet another gourmet restaurant in our neighborhood. As soon as Megan starts making the big money we will attend and likely leave with that incredible relaxed and satiating feeling of happiness that one can find so many ways here.

It feels great, for the time being, to say that New Orleans is home.