New Orleans; a pleasant surprise; an enjoyable week

I moved away from the southshore over 22 years ago; we sought a different kind of life across the lake; we have not been disappointed.  Over time there was very little reason to return and except for events related to my diaconate ministry we rarely have.  I'm a cautious guy in my older age and the issues of crime have always concerned me.  And to be clear, we both love and enjoy our life across the lake, even with the post-Katrina growth which has brought more businesses and good places to eat and more reasons to not venture far from home.

The events of a recent wedding and now this great Deacon Congress have put me in New Orleans more this month than perhaps many, many years.  Sure, we did not venture far from the venues of both of these events but it was a pleasant experience getting reacquainted with St. Charles Ave. and the neighborhood around St. Stephen's Church, uptown, then to downtown, Canal St. just 5 blocks from the river, the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, great eating establishments, the incredible World War II Museum.

I listened to deacon after deacon talk about the great meals they ate, the places they strolled in the quarter, the streetcar ride.

Even I must admit, both Wendy and this cautious old man enjoyed our recent time in New Orleans.

Now this does not change those things that keep me away, New Orleans still has way too much crime and the city politics is always corrupt.  And once home, I will be reminded in an instant of my we choose life across the lake and we are blessed to find the great community of Abita Springs and our church family at St. Jane de Chantal.  Yet perhaps these memories of the week spent in New Orleans will give me a fresh set of eyes to consider special events or more reasons to return.  Heck lunch at Antoine's is enough to consider a return trip, as would be another visit to the WWII Museum and of course anytime to worship at the oldest Catholic Cathedral in this country!  Maybe one day we will attend a Broadway play at Saenger Theatre or finally attend a Pelicans game in the state of the art arena, maybe a Saints game sometime before I'm way too old and feeble, a Mardi Gras parade; well, let’s not get too crazy.

I'm very grateful that the 2018 National Diaconate Congress came to New Orleans and drew not only 2,800 Deacons and wives to the Crescent City, but drew Wendy and me to spend a week in the city of my birth.  I'm glad that Dave and Sarah choose St. Stephen's Church for their wedding so I could once again be in the church in this Archdiocese dedicated to Permanent Deacons, and yes I am glad that my July visits to New Orleans are filled with happy memories and I am glad that I get to go back home to beautiful Abita Springs; and it's only 55 miles away!!