My friend Angie went to Mardi Gras this year. We all had outgrown it several years ago but she really wanted to go down and support the residents. She is a Louisiana native and an honorary NOLA citizen. Her email to me:
"Everyone is holding steady, but there's a lot of spontaneous crying, which I hear is quite common among New Orleanians. I'll forward you a GREAT article written by Bill Joyce of Shreveport and author/illustrator of Roli-Poli-Oli who addresses that new syndrome. I think they will all need some serious counseling before too long. Everyone's either irritable or extremely sensitive or both. BUT, Mardi Gras was a great break from it all. I read somewhere that "Mardi Gras was an epidural for the rebirth of New Orleans" and I just love that metaphor. It was so true."
It is a great article, read it for yourselves.
http://www.centenary.edu/news/2006/February/B-Joyce-cover-article.html
http://www.fillorburst.com/mt-tb.cgi/1029
Look at me -- I finally posted something on your blog! I was tempted to read this one b/c I knew I was mentioned.
And to the woman named Margie who commented that Alisa is like the best friend she wishes she had, SHE IS and I am very, very lucky!
yes, a great article.