JACKSON SQUARE
March 27th, 2007
I HAD THE PRIVILEDGE OF SPENDING 10 MONTHS IN NEW ORLEANS AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA AND I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE SOME OF THOSE MEMORIES WITH YOU.
THE DAYS WERE OFTEN LONG, SURROUNDED BY LOSS AND DEVASTATION, SO WE WOULD TRY TO TAKE A WALK IN THE EVENINGS DOWN TO JACKSON SQUARE. MY HUSBAND AND I LIVED IN AN APARTMENT ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM THE SQUARE JUST OFF OF DECATUR STREET. DURING THE DAY WE WOULD USUSALLY BE OFF IN SOME SECTION OF THE CITY WHERE THE FLOODWATERS WERE AT THEIR WORST SO THE FRENCH QUARTER BECAME A MOST WELCOMED SIGHT EACH NIGHT. IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS MILITARY AND STATE TROOPERS THAT WERE THE FAMILAR SIGHT IN THE SQUARE, BUT SLOWLY THE ARTISTS, AND THE ENTERTAINERS RETURNED. THE SAINT LOUIS CATHEDRAL WAS AT THE CENTER AND BEHIND THE CATHEDRAL IS A STATUE OF JESUS. HIS ARMS ARE STRETCHED OUT WITH HIS HANDS OPEN. THIS PLACE, FOR ME BECAME A SOURCE OF SPIRTUAL REVITALIZATION. YOU COULD ALMOST FEEL THE RYTHMN, HEAR THE PULSE, THE HEARTBEAT OF A CITY, THE SOUL OF NEW ORLEANS RIGHT HERE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND. I GUESS WITH EASTER APPROACHING I AM JUST REMINDED OF THAT STATUE AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR, AND ALL THAT THE CITY ENDURED. I AM THANKFUL OF THAT TIME I WAS ABLE TO SPEND THERE AND WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY EASTER.
KAREN PENNER