Fried Green Tomatoes

Yesterday I putzed around New Orleans (Nawlins for the experienced traveler) and I have to admit, it's a lot less fun to explore alone. But even still, you can't escape the 'whimsy' of the city. It's this magical place where adventure and light heartedness meets deep rooted pain and hurt...the combination creates this richness that's impossible to describe, you really truly have to walk the streets yourself to understand.

Actually, for the first few hours of the morning, I got to be with friends from Seattle (a much needed piece of home for me). They were there for a Young Life convention and with me bein only a little over an hour away I couldn't imagine not makin the trip. After they left I stayed to explore. I strolled around shops, stopped and listened to the small bands tryin to make a buck, sat and drank coffee as I watched passer-byers...some rather nice "me" time.

As I ventured to find Cafe Du Monde (Beignets to DIE for!) I was distracted by a huge group of people gathered around and watching a street performance. I stopped a few yards away and watched for a minute when a man grabbed me and said, "sit" and pointed at a seat in the very front.
"I'm really OK, I'll just watch from here"
but I was wasting my breathe, he was already dragging me across the audience to sit front and center. Then, as he stood and waited for his time to shine (he was  apart of the performance) he started signaling to me and mouthing "where you from?" (I guess I looked more like a foreigner then I thought). We tried to communicate this way for awhile when finally he signaled to me like a cop stopping traffic..."Just stay there, I'll come find you after!" he disappeared behind the crowd and then for the finale came running at a line that had been formed of at least 8 of the audience members...he jumped over all them,cleared it like it was nothing.

When he came to find me after the performance it was the first time I noticed his thick accent. He was from the Caribbean, a small island called St. Kitts. His aura and vibe was contagious, one of the most genuinely and outwardly kind people I have met. Every single person that walked up to him after the performance was given his full attention and gratitude. He introduced me to some of his crew, not as warm, but real through to his core. Within minutes they had convinced me to have dinner with them.

"Even if you don't eat with us, we're not letting you walk to your car alone!"
We walked down the block and stopped into this seafood place, it wasn't very busy but then again it was only nearly 4:30 and the dinner rush hadn't hit yet. (plus we all know people go to the french quarter to drink, not eat). I got fried green tomatoes (because I had never tried em and was in an adventurous mood-considering I was at dinner with 2 complete strangers!)SO good!

Anyways, during dinner I got to pick their brains a bit. Turns out Alex, 'Rasta Man' as he insisted I call him, is in a group called the Calypso Tumblers that performed on America's Got Talent (here's a link to his story, it's seriously amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RbRRPoAYM) and this other guy has an amazing story (but as I promised him, wouldn't post any piece of it so you'll have to take me at my word!) But hearing them was such a good reminder that EVERYONE has a story...it's just that we're all so busy lookin out for #1 that we don't stop to listen.

I'll be honest when I saw them performing on the street I assumed they were nobody's (I should know better by now!) While talking with these men I quickly realized neither had had any aspect of life handed to them. They both had to put in so much sweat equity to become experts of their craft. (another great reminder that nothing comes easy and its usually less romantic in reality than it is in your head...these guys are hustlin EVERY DAY on the street, it's no cake walk.) But they do it because they love it. They both have enough (more than enough) talent to be living in Hollywood and making serious money but they are dedicated to doing what brings them joy and making sure people were able to share in their passion.

At their performances they end with a plea... "kids, stay in school and don't do drugs, it's bad for your bodies! and remember, there is only 1 race, the human race!" I felt like God had plopped me in that audience to remind me that I'm not alone on this journey, that there are in fact kindred spirits all around me. Amidst all the warnings and people begging me to be careful (rightfully so), amidst the craziness and darkness of the streets I sit and share a meal with bearers of hope. No hurricane, no amount of alcohol, bars or drunkies walkin the street, no gangs or amount of violence is able to ward off Gods grace and mystery. 

Alex and crew...blessings to you! Nothing but admiration and respect for your talent and vision. Thank you for sharing your time and your story with me.