Up against the wall, mofo…..
This was the first night since we’ve been back that things have been a little weird. We’ve all been so caught up in the ‘God, we’re just glad to be back and everyone else is too and we’re all just so happy in spite of the problems’ mode. But, despite the good time tonight, it’s been weird.
To start with, I began the day about 5am hearing sirens in the distance. This was the norm for New Orleans in the pre-K world and, actually, was as familiar as hearing boat horns on the river or train whistles near the CBD. But now there’s the National Guard and a curfew and other protective stuff in place and, well, I was wondering what kind of emergency they were off to. So much of the city is simply dark and unpopulated.
We began this evening at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl, with the extremely local Grunch and the Bunch doing their songs about the flooding and their songs about all the things that “Ain’t Dere No More” from years gone by. We then migrated to the Balcony Bar on Magazine to meet up with the distinguished Jack Ware for some excellent conversation and observation.
On the walk over, we noticed unusually heavy military presence on Magazine. We’re used to seeing a couple Humvees pass anyplace we go these days, but tonight they were parked on virtually every block. Once we got inside the Balcony Bar, a couple of guys got into a shoving match that we thought was momentary. But, about 15 minutes later, the NOPD shows up and tries to cuff some older frat-boy type who wasn’t cooperating. The cop pulls out his pepper spray and I’m thinking, “NO! NOT IN MY DRINK!” but elder fratboy backs down and the cops hustle him outside.
On the (five-block) walk back to the house, we’re followed first at a distance (we were walking slowly) and then closer and closer by two heavily armed National Guardsmen. We eventually stop and let them play through, but it was the first time since we’ve been back that we’ve seen this kind of weaponry moving this close and this slowly. I also noticed this afternoon that half the Guardsmen on normal Humvee patrol were wearing helmets, which I haven’t seen before.
Maybe it’s the moon, I dunno. But it just seemed everyone was a lot jumpier than usual this evening.
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There seemed to be a large Guard presence outside of the Maple Leaf as well last night. Much more so than the last couple of weeks.
AND THE POINT OF YOUR RANT IS?
Back off dude. It’s not a rant. It’s just a statement of fact and, after talking to some of the Guardsmen, they have their reasons.
1) They’re wearing helmets because of last week’s head-on wreck on Tchoup between a Humvee and some local’s car. Both drivers were killed. It’s a safety issue.
2) More Guardsmen were on patrol because more folks are in town and it was a Saturday night and the NOPD can use the extra help. More people=more open businesses=more drunks.
Don’t think for a minute that any of us resent the Guard being in town. They’re a class act.
It must have been the moon. Two guys and a woman got into it over the status of a pool table at my favorite bar, Fahy’s (Toulouse & Burgundy), on Saturday night. That pub is the most serene place in NO even when it’s crowded - everyone’s always smiling and having a good time. Not that night. My friend had to kick one of the guys out.
Nerves are still at an all-time high in our city. As more people come back in and things get back to normal, I think people will stop being so edgy. NYC came back, right?