MAN, WOMAN, BIRTH, DEATH, INFINITY

What ever happened to Ben Casey? I’ll bet if HE had operated on H2 there would have been no infection issues. Or, if there had, Dr. Zorba would certainly have nipped them in the bud in short order. We miss you, Ben, along with your colleague, Dr. Kildare!

Please pray for the repose of the soul of two of my friends, one who died on Wednesday and the other on Thursday. I believe both were struggling with cancer. I don’t have enough fingers to count the number of people I know who have, who had, or who succumbed to cancer. I can’t help wondering where our incidence rate falls on the national scale. To me, it seems that we have an awfully high incidence rate, but I have no data to back it up, just a feeling.

Prayer is requested also for a friend who had a kidney transplant 11 years ago, and appears now to be in the early stages of having that kidney fail.

Yesterday evening was Big Boy’s and B3’s (Big Boy’s Britney, soon to be Big Boy’s Bride) wedding rehearsal and dinner. They are two really good people and it’s really a pleasure knowing them. The rehearsal came off without a hitch and I’m sure the wedding will, as well! The rehearsal dinner was a private, catered dinner at Boomtown Casino. The food was great, and the DJ found his rhythm once he realized that line and slow dances would get people onto the dance floor. H2 even got up once to cut the rug on a slow dance!

Linda is visiting this weekend. And she’s bringing a house guest of sorts. It seems that her hosts in Memphis will both be out of town this weekend, and their family members will also be “out of pocket” leaving their dog, Lady, in the lurch. Enter Linda, who offers to bring Lady to NOLA for the French Quarter festival. Maynard has NO idea. He will be thrilled!! I can already visualize his body twisted into a pretzel as his tail spins at record speed! Oh, yes.

It still really amazes me to think about all the things that have been affected by Katrina. As I drive in various areas of East Bank NOLA I see things that I never noticed before. It’s the result of HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of trees being cut down after dying from being partially submerged in the flood waters. Along Elysian Fields Avenue alone the city has replanted something on the order of 220 + oaks, magnolias and other types of trees.

In the Lakeview area it seems that every day I realize a lot has appeared where a house once stood. They are going down faster than they are going up. I think, at least I hope, that the lots will soon be new homes. One resident mentioned that while the population of Lakeview has been decimated, the Easter Sunday morning service at St. Dominic’s was standing room only. People who intend to return are keeping in touch with their community. That’s encouraging in itself.

This weekend is the French Quarter festival. It used to be a small, pre-Jazzfest affair, intended for the local populace. Good food and good music spread throughout the French Quarter. Over the years it has grown into a mini-Jazzfest and is fast becoming a major tourist attraction. It has much of what Jazzfest has to offer, but without the high cost of admission and fewer headaches getting to it.

Jazzfest, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, follows close on the heels of the FQF. It takes place the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May (Fridays – Sundays). It boasts a great line-up of musicians this year. So much so that I, who in 23 years has been to Jazzfest only twice, am tempted to go. I’d really like to see Norah Jones and Bonnie Raitt.

Well, as DIL1 (or H3 aka H1’s Houston Hottie) says, “That’s all I got.” So, until next time… May God’s blessings be yours. We love you!