August 24: We're All Addicted to Something

Today's post is dedicated to the homeless. There but by the grace of God go I. There are a lot of homeless here in New Orleans. We've seen, the mentally ill, the drug addict, the tortured artist, the wounded veteran, the degenerate. Seen equally through God's eye. Who knows what their many and varied stories might be. All I know is that we need to collectively do something about the problem of homelessness based on what their issue is that put them on the street. It breaks my heart to see them suffering. Yes, I know that some people believe that many of them choose to live a life without strings or responsibilities. I believe they need to be educated on life.

"We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll

"Helping others in need is not only a responsibility of life; it is what gives meaning to life." - Mollie Marti

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Jane Goodall

Let's see - what did we do today? First of all we slept in a bit. Then we took our time getting ready. Yvette went for a run/walk and I walked to Walgreens. I forgot my toiletry bag with my brush, comb and make up in the camper. So I bought a few things to get me by.

Then we took the trolley from the hotel to Bourbon/Canal streets. We had a beignets and tea. The boys had eggs and beignets. We listened to the live band called, Steam boat Willie at the Cajun Cafe on Bourbon Street. They were pretty good. The beignets were awesome. Next, we walked up and down the streets of the French Quarter.

Earlier we passed a homeless couple where the man was drawing on carboard. Later, when we passed them again, I stopped and asked him him how much he would charge to do a portrait of my dogs. He said, "Oh I don't know, it would just be an honor to do their portrait becauyse no one has ever asked me to do a portrait of their dog. We talked and learned about them and they learned about us. His name is Grantham and her name is Jessi. She is a writer. All the while that we were talking Grantham was scratching away on the cardboard with his ball point pen. Sometimes his face was so close to the drawing I don't know how he was keeping it all in perspective. In the end I had a beautiful portrait of my boys - he truly captured them on the cardboard canvas. I paid him and he gave me a wonderful gift of petrified coal that he'd found at LaFitte's Landing. Jean LaFitte was a French pirate who began a successful business in the Gulf by selling and smuggling "treasures" acquired by his brother, Pierre in the early 1800's. I plan to make a piece of jewelry out of it when I get home. The boys were so good at sitting nicely for their portrait. We were taking pictures of all of us together, when Bobby spotted another dog behind us. None of us, including Jean-Luc saw it. Bobby took off to smell the other dog. He didn't bark. He just ran to it.The man who was on the other end of the leash picked up his dog and was quite irritated as Bobby kept jumping up to see his dog. I was laughing - just struct me funny and the only person who went after Bobby was Grantham. We finally we got the pic and said goodbye to our new friends. I hope that they will reach out to me on this website so that we can stay in touch. Grantham is such a talented artist. It's tragic to see someone like him living on the streets and doing drugs. Is he a tortured artist? Is he running away from childhood memories too harsh to face? Is he simply and addict whose family has given up on him? I don't think there is such a thing as a simple addict - everyone has a story, and I would really like to know his and Jessi's stories.

After that we went and had drinks and chips and dip at a bar with live music and a patio where we could sit with the dogs, who were pooped from walking all over the French Quarter.

We caught the trolley back to St. Charles ST. and the Pontchartrain Hotel. We sat up and talked until very late as we drank Margaritas and wine. Good Times.

Since writing this entry in my journal the city of New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Ida. I have many concerns about the the city and the wonderful people that we met wherever we went in the city. I can only hope that Grantham and Jessi are okay, as well as the employees at the Pontchartrain Hotel and the Pontchartrain Landing, the employees of the Avenue Cafe where we had breakfast on our second day in New Orleans, as well as the employees and the patrons of NOLA Animal Clinic. They have all been affected by the hurricane whether they were hit by the water or if they are without power. I can attest that it is hot there and they need air conditioning. They also need clean water. I don't know what I can do, but I will at least send money to the recovery efforts.