"Where Y’at"

"How’z Ya Mamma and ‘Dem?"

"Yeah, You Right"

"Who ‘Dat Say Day Gonna Beat ‘Dem Saints, Who ‘Dat?"

Soft crispy poboy bread

Gravy dripping down your elbow

Muffaletta with salty olive salad

Brennan’s

Commander’s Palace

Mother’s

Port of Call

Snug Harbor

Margaritaville

Cooter Brown’s

The Bulldog

Lagers

Pat O’Brien’s

Tropical Isle

Lucy’s

Vic’s Kangaroo Café

Uptown

Downtown

Mid-City

The CBD

The Quarter

Westbank

The Fauberg

Metry

Kennah

Warehouse District

Dr. John

The Nevilles

Louis Armstrong

House of Blues

Better Than Ezra

Papa Grows Funk

John Fohl

HOT STICKY SMELLY WET SLIMY DANGEROUS DECADENT ELEGANT OLD

ROTTING REVITALIZED RECLAIMED MULTI-CULTURAL DESTINATION ETHNIC

CREATIVE LOVED

So many thoughts, so many questions, so much sadness, many, many memories, maybe some hope.

You all have your own lists. We all have our own thoughts and questions and feelings. I started to write all mine for you, but felt it was silly trying to put it all together in five paragraphs. Jimmy Buffett says Margaritaville is a state of mind. New Orleans is something like that, to me. Those who love it, always had a piece of it in their soul - it was there for me before I went there. I loved it before I knew it, and it always grows on me, though it has so many troubles. And those who lived there, cherish it so much more. It is a permanent part in the story of the South, this state, this nation, and the entire world. I will skip the details of my troubled mind through this time - we will all have decades to sit down and discuss it, and I would love that, my friends.

Let me tell you all that I was extremely lucky and had no home damage. Thanks to you who have checked on me. I hope you had similar luck. Many of my NO friends have contacted me, as well. I’m pretty sure those I know well down there got out safe. We are all grieving and in shock about all these lost souls and those in the throws of the aftermath of Katrina. God bless you all....

As all the spin and finger-pointing goes on, let us all pray for each other, and our country. It is still the best place to be. The Elvis and Jesse show was cancelled by Katrina. It will be my goal to reschedule that show in the fall, making it bigger, better, with more music and musicians and schtick, a silent auction, and food. Keep your eyes out for that, cause I will probably call on many of you to give and help out. We will find an appropriate place to send funds. Elvis and Jesse will dedicate all funds to Katrina relief. If you need me for your fund-raising ideas, you damn well call or write to me!

Our lives and hometowns in this area are now different. I wish you all the best. New Orleans will be back and who knows what it will be like and who will live and work there. But I think there will be many moments when we look at each other and say, "it used to be like....."

But, I look forward to hearing this:

"I can tell ya where you got them shoes!"