Sweet Home New Orleans, or Psychological Zombie Apocalypse Part Deux

I'll begin with a story: Once upon a Jazz Fest week after I was out of college but before the storm, my friend Mary and I were discussing our plans for the fest (since we love Jazz Fest) and hadn't yet figured out when we were going to go or for how many days. At the time, Mary worked in the music department at one of the universities and happened to talk to a professor about the same thing. This professor was performing that weekend in the Economy Jazz tent and offered to get us in for free. Free is always good in my book so we agreed. Now, if you're going to the festival with a musician you have to be with said musician when you go in so we had to plan where to meet. Our professor friend came up with this brilliant idea:

We would rendezvous on Mystery Street.

Mystery Street is not too far from the Fairgrounds and has a place in Jazz Fest geography/history and has even made it into a few songs over the years. If I ever write a book about New Orleans, Rendezvous on Mystery Street will be the title. So we rendezvoused on Mystery Street and spent the day Jazz Festing it up like proper New Orleanians (you know, eating great food, listening to amazing music, dancing, drinking, and maybe getting a little sunburned despite our best efforts not too). It's one my fondest memories of being an adult in New Orleans and a story I think about often.

It is not, however, Jazz Fest time. It is Carnival Time and everybody's having fun (sing along with me if you know the words). It's around this time every year that I seriously consider taking a break from social media (particularly FB) since I know my newsfeed will be flooded with pictures and status updates of all the fun people are having back home. On Tuesday, I will be reminded in a very real way that it's just Tuesday despite Clarendon's efforts at a Mardi Gras parade and my best efforts to get my friends and co-workers excited by making king cake (which I may or may not do given my current mood).

I've previously written about my inability to come to terms with not living in New Orleans. That's the problem when you move somewhere else - you no longer live in New Orleans. You can try your hardest to bring a little bit of home into wherever it is you do live but it's never the same. I can bring home bags of my favorite coffee (PJs) and Camellia red beans but all that means is that I went to the grocery last time I was in New Orleans. And it usually means I have to explain something to someone about a culture that they won't understand until they experience it (and even then, they may hate it entirely).

And so I am grumpy. I don't want to be but I am. I was even in New Orleans recently (the weekend before the Super Bowl) for a surprise trip to attend a baby shower. I always think a trip home will be restorative, like it will somehow be the cure for what's ailing me but this is never 100% true. Usually, it just makes it worse. This trip was awesome (I'm shocked that Heather and I kept a secret for so long and that glad the Hillary was truly surprised) but it was just too short. Going back for 48 hours is never enough.

The other thing that I struggle with this time of year is explaining that Mardi Gras is not the stuff of countless Girls Gone Wild videos (and I can't believe I just referenced those videos here - sigh). We moved to the area when I was in the 3rd grade and Mardi Gras was always and has always been about community and family not about booze, beads, and boobs. Having experienced Mardi Gras as a child, a teenager, a young adult and an adult, my favorite experiences were as a child catching beads and toys and having fun. It was fun to compete with your friends to see who got the most beads or if you got toys or a Zulu coconut (I have exactly one and no Muses shoes). Don't get me wrong, the party aspect of Mardi Gras is always there but there's absolutely no reason to dismiss the traditions and pageantry of Carnival season because of the behaviors of a small number of people who are mostly from away.

So what's a Misfit Toy to do? Do I take my social media break like a moron and pretend like the next few days are not happening? Do I make the king cake and wear my new Fleurty Girl shirt on Tuesday? Do I stay home like a petulant child and sulk?

Maybe I should just listen to the wise words of Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and just appreciate that I've even been lucky enough to experience New Orleans and call it home.

"Appreciate the culture that you have in New Orleans cause you don't got it nowhere else...there's just a bunch of happy people all the time."*


Photos by me
*Quote from "Preserving the Heritage of the Mardi Gras Indians" by Chris DiBenedetto Where Y'At Magazine

When you grow up your heart dies

"Jules, y'know, honey... this isn't real. You know what it is? It's St. Elmo's Fire. Electric flashes of light that appear in dark skies out of nowhere. Sailors would guide entire journeys by it, but the joke was on them... there was no fire. There wasn't even a St. Elmo. They made it up. They made it up because they thought they needed it to keep them going when times got tough, just like you're making up all of this. We're all going through this. It's our time at the edge"

 -Billy (Rob Lowe), St. Elmo's Fire

A couple of months ago, my friend Allison and I attempted to attend a movie night at Nationals Park. The event was promoted by Groupon (which is how Allison found out about it) and we were super stoked to go hang out with other 80s movie fans on a brisk evening and watch St. Elmo's Fire. At a baseball stadium. I had planned to do a Lazy Movie Weekend post about the experience too. It was going to be epic.

But that did not happen. When Allison and I arrived at Nationals Park, the lights were completely off and no one was there. There was no sign of the 80s cover band that was supposed to be playing or the cast look alikes. She and I were it. The one Nationals employee we found had no idea what we were talking about. Four other people would eventually wander over too, unaware of any cancellation. No one at Groupon responded to the email, the tweet or, the Facebook post went sent. Groupon punked us and it was disappointing. And so we got back on the Metro and went back to Clarendon and had dinner. We did see someone almost get arrested so we considered the evening a success.

The next day, Allison and I both got a response from Groupon. The event had been canceled but somehow Allison (who made the reservation) wasn't on the list for notification. They refunded the ticket price and gave Allison credit for future purchases so that worked out.

So, I didn't get to watch the movie after all. And it either hasn't been on tv at all or I come in the middle of the movie which isn't fun. So this isn't a Lazy Movie Weekend post (although I am going to to tell you some great things about this movie). Every year, usually around this time, I find myself suffering from what I can only categorize as ennui. Or a psychological zombie apocalypse. And for some reason, I associate this movie with this feeling. I believe I've finally figured out why.

St. Elmo's Fire is a later addition to the Brat Pack movie world. It's not a John Hughes movie and does not feature Molly Ringwald (Ally Sheedy sort of takes her place in this one). The movie takes place in DC (which is weird because it's not about politics at all and I think only movies about politics should take place here). It focuses on a group of 20 somethings just out of college who are trying to make their way in life. They're moving into their first jobs out of college, trying to figure out their love lives, and generally doing the stupid things that people in the 80s did all the time (at least in movies). Like wear layers of clothes with shoulder pads. Or date Judd Nelson.

There are some things that I absolutely love about this movie:

• Ally Sheedy's character Leslie is who I imagine Claire (from The Breakfast Club) would have become if she was a real person. 
• There's a scene in which Ally (Leslie) and Judd (Alec) have an argument over who gets to keep which records when they break up (sorry for the spoiler). This scene is my favorite because I could envision myself having a similar debate with a boyfriend but I also realize that this scene would probably not exist in a film if it was made today. Because only old people (like me) actually buy albums or CDs anymore. What do people divide up when they break up now?
• This quote by Kevin (Andrew McCarthy's morose character): "I enjoy being afraid of Russia. It's a harmless fear, but it makes America feel better, Russia gets an inflated sense of national worth from our paranoia. How's that?" This is why Red Dawn (and now it's remake) even exist.
• That I learned to be wary of certain types of gifts from boyfriends. Judd Nelson is to blame for this. If you've seen this movie you know what I'm talking about.
• If the club scene in Xanadu was what I envisioned adult night life was like, this movie is how I envisioned being 20ish and on my own would be like. Looking back on this now makes me laugh and feel sort of foolish.
• The end of the movie where they're all standing outside the bar looking in at the new versions of themselves and decide not to go in. Instead, they talk about getting together some other time. Probably for brunch. Because that's what grown-ups do - they go to brunch.

However my absolute favorite thing about this movie is this: Almost all of the characters are the person (or some variation of the person) that Ally Sheedy's character in The Breakfast Club described when she said "When you grow up your heart dies." Whether it's Alec who gives up his ideals to the almighty dollar or cheats on his girlfriend for no apparent reason except that he can or Kevin who should be writing but he's too wrapped up in his obsession with Leslie so he settles for writing obituaries and complaining about everything or Jules living what can only be described as a very 1980s lifestyle, they all represent what happens when you just don't believe in anything anymore. And I think that's what Allison (from The Breakfast Club) was really talking about: when you grow up you have to be so concerned with things like money and status and following some sort of preset path that you forget who you are and what you really believe in or are passionate about.

Wendy and Billy are really the only two that I don't think fall into this camp. I don't really care for Billy but he does get the hell out of dodge to follow his dreams so at least he does something. Wendy could take money from her wealthy family, marry the man that her father wants her to marry (who is terribly boring) and have an easy life. But she doesn't. She has her job (social worker), she lives away from her family, and her heart belongs to Billy (even though this is a horrible idea - remember this is 1980s Rob Lowe so he's basically playing himself in the movie). Wendy is the heart of this movie. She keeps the group together. She doesn't want their hearts to die.

And this is why I equate my ennui with this movie. I think about "When you grow up your heart dies" all the time. I never want to come to a point in my life where I'm not passionate about what I'm doing or the life I'm living. There's something about this time of the year that brings this into focus. Is it the end of the rush and excitement of the holidays? The realization that it's only going to get colder between now and March? That Congress comes back into session? I just don't know. I don't want my heart to die. I don't want to be friends with people who have let their hearts die or if I am, I want to be their Wendy and help them figure it out.

After all, I am Erin Counselor and that's a very Erin Counselor thing to do.

Life in the Who Dat Nation

I was not lucky enough to be born a Saints fan and I'm no team expert or historian. I just like the team and have since my family moved to Louisiana in the late 80s. You know, before their Super Bowl win.  I remember the paper bags, the 'Aints, and the campaign to have faith. It's hard not to like this team. Even in their years of loserdom, they were fun and seemed to revel in being underdogs. It's a badge of honor or something.

We can discuss Aaron Neville's maroon suit another day (because it is fantastic). If I'm not mistaken, this was actually filmed during one of their most winningest seasons ('83 maybe?). Anyway, there's something awesome about hearing people sing this song and knowing the words. Everything should be like a parade.

But it's also hard being a Saints fan. And we are the best fans in the world. Don't argue with me; you will lose. You might know they're awesome but they don't always seem to know it and certainly other teams' fans have a hate/hate relationship with us. I have to admit to feelings of anxiety and stress when I watch the Saints play - this is why I can't follow any other team in any other sport. My emotional self can't take it.

One of my favorite series of commercials for the team were used during the 2006 season (at least according to my friend Bridget who is a Saints expert so I will defer to her always). Anyway, the commercials featured Sean Payton coaching various team members on everyday activities. The one that sticks in my mind is the one where Payton coaches one of the players (I can't remember who) on how to brush his teeth. I remember the first time I saw it and laughing so hard my side hurt. Sadly, I have not been able to find it anywhere so you'll just have to use your imagination on this one.

I think of those commercials now as we get closer to this Sunday's game. It's been a rough start to this season; this is not the same team that we all know and love. They seem defeated even before they get on the field (except maybe Jimmy Graham-he is killing it). It's not an issue of skill or drive or desire to win; I think we know this is a talented team who wants to win. But clearly, Sean Payton matters and silly commercial aside, the team is suffering without him. Since it's pretty obvious that he's not going to be coaching this team this season there is only one thing I can think of to fix this.

Group therapy.

The team needs to get some help. I think there are some emotional issues on that field and those issues are keeping the Saints from delivering. The problem for the Saints it that they are not just a football team. They are a symbol of something greater than football-rebirth, hope, and faith. Fans are loyal and now have expectations of greatness and another Super Bowl win (especially given that it's in New Orleans this year). That's a lot to deal with on top of Bountygate, replacement refs, and the conspiracy theories about the NFL's attitude and dislike of the Saints. I know they're paid well for their work and just need to do their jobs (I'm fond of saying this at work) but I don't think they're going to be able to without working through their issues first. It's even possible that the team is suffering from some form of psychological zombie apocalypse.

In 2004, Metallica released a documentary about the making of their new album St. Anger and the band's attempt to work their issues out via group therapy. The film, Some Kind of Monster, is incredibly awkward to watch but awesome at the same time. The band is falling apart, the egos are amazing, and Dave Mustaine almost cries. I felt sad for the band (since I genuinely like them) but also wanted to reach through the screen and punch Lars and James in the face. By the end the album is finished and the band stays together (with a new bassist) and Lars buys more art and the Metallica universe is righted again.

That's what I propose for the Saints. Let's get a therapist and get these guys to talk it out. Get them to discuss the leadership vacuum that is apparently taking over the team; the stress of Bountygate and losing Payton for the season; the emotional weight of being a symbol of our city; getting rid of this defeatist attitude that they all seem to have the second they walk on the field. I'd also like them have a discussion about Jimmy Graham's awesomeness so that we can all be assured that no one is jealous of him and that he will continue to do his job as he has been doing. I'm also certain that Drew Brees needs a hug; something is missing from him this season. The spark is there but it's fainter than in seasons past - it's hard being an icon. I also really love Pierre Thomas - remember when he was called "Walter Paytonesque" back in 2009? I'd love for someone to one day describe a new player as "Pierre Thomasesque"-that would be cool.

Yes, this is my wrist. No, I didn't get a fleur de lis tattoo because of my Saints love (and I do love them). But that's what people think it's for and most of the time I let them. It's too hard to explain why I actually got this tattoo to strangers (without getting all personal and emotional) and saying I'm in a gang doesn't always go over so well.

So let's focus on tomorrow's game. Let's have faith in our boys and victory on the horizon. Let's Geaux Saints!

Do your job-Sean Payton will be proud.

Video from youtube.com
Photos by me!