Quintessence. The intrinsic value or character of something. This is what I want to experience when I travel, and what I try to capture in photographs. I want to share the essence of a place with folks back home and beyond. This week, I am having a working vacation in New Orleans, having gotten an amazing last minute deal on a condo in the French Quarter. I write and take classes in the morning and head out to explore right after. I could easily make this a permanent lifestyle…😁
New Orleans is the most colorful, interesting place I’ve visited in the US – and possibly abroad as well. It has this strange and wonderful energy that is either incredibly vital – vibrantly alive – or in the process of decay. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of in between, and this phenomenon seems to extend to nearly everything and everyone here. Every day is fascinating.
One of my favorite and most quintessential moments in the Big Easy was a few years back on my first visit here. My family and I were waiting on a street corner of a four-way street for the guide of a ghost tour who was a bit late, as seems to be common in all southerly regions. Things just move a little slower. But as we stood there, enjoying the wild and vibrant world of the French Quarter, a small impromptu parade came through. There were drag queens, a couple of guys playing jazz on horns, people on gussied-up bicycles, and one very old lady on a unicycle, dressed in a tutu and tiara. Following this colorful group was a very tall, broad african-American man, chuckling and shaking his head. As he passed us, he shouted out “Only in N’awlins, y’all, only in N’awlins.” Quintessence, indeed.✨.
Today after finishing classes, I wandered down to Decauter for brunch at #frenchtoastnola to enjoy a ratatouille omelette with Provençal potatoes and of course, a very large café au lait.
After a long walk through the quarter and along the canal, I enjoyed beignets from Café du Monde by the Mississippi, watching the riverboats and the colorful characters that abound, shared a secret with a talkative sculpture, watched another capture the sun, did some fun shopping, had an impromptu facial with an esthetician who told me I was the most unique person she had ever met. (Says the woman living in arguably the most unique city in the world…) But I kinda liked it.
At the recommendation of said esthetician I had dinner at a local, award-winning Thai restaurant; #thaiheyneworleans . They had the most incredibly aesthetic – and unique – presentation of spicy eggplant and tofu I’ve ever seen. So good, especially enjoyed in such a fabulous environment, sitting at a sidewalk table on the bustling and fun Decauter Street. I also did a “haunted history” tour late evening and took the obligatory stroll down the wild scene that is Bourbon Street after dark. Strip clubs, sugar-laden alcohol, college kids and pickpockets is not really my vibe but everyone visiting should experience it at least once, even if it’s just on a one-time stroll-through to see the sights.
But, lean in if you want to know my absolute favorite part of the day. Not really quintessential N’awlins, but so special:
There are Buddhist monks wandering all over the French quarter, “giving” mala and Buddha necklaces. I am well aware of the technique. The Zoroastrians began it in the 70s – it’s based on an essential human trait – the law of reciprocity. We aren’t neurologically structured to receive something without giving in return. So we give, even though we don’t really want or need whatever it is we’ve been “gifted”.
It’s a gimmick and I get that it’s better than begging for alms, but I still don’t love the way they often pressure people into “donating” large amounts of money. Feels opposite what a monk should be, to me.
But this one particular older monk just felt so sweet and genuine that I stopped for him, allowing him to give me a blessing as he put this golden buddha necklace over my head and a mala bracelet on my wrist. I gave him cash without the high pressure “$60 donation” spiel and we chatted for a moment. As we parted, he gave me the biggest hug and said “I love you.” I returned his blessing and love. it was such a beautiful moment.🥰.
What was particularly interesting about this is that the “blessing” I had silently asked for was love. Not necessarily romantic love, because goodness knows there hasn’t been a whole lotta romance happening in my bubble these days…🙄but rather, to have an amazing day where I could share love with those that I already know or those that I met. It’s cheesy, I know, but it’s who I am. 🤷♀️. I believe the essential nature of the Universe is love, and any time we can tap into that, We are also tapping into our own Divine nature in a powerful way.
A few minutes after my monk meetup, I was approached by a homeless man who asked for a dollar. I gave him the remainder of my cash with a warm handshake and he held my hand and my gaze for a moment before saying “I love you”.
Later, the esthetician told me multiple times that she “absolutely loved me” as we spoke about life and reality.
I also got to share a little of my trip and some extra love with friends and my kids – and a lot of non-verbal caring with most of the people I met over the course of the day. So, blessing fulfilled.
In the song “What a Wonderful World”, Louis Armstrong sings “I see friends shaking hands, saying, how do you do. They are really saying I love you.” I feel that.🥰. Did you know that he was from New Orleans? Seems appropriate, doesn’t it?
Big love from the Big Easy.💖
This Blessed Sacred Life 