Skip to main content

On Thanksgiving

Up early (I love traveling backwards) and my first order of business is to shoot off a draft of a speech for next week's trip to Kenya.  Of course, a wireless connection is not easily come by in the home of my godfather the artist-ludite (who calls any computer an "evil black box of death").  Not to be deterred, I call my favorite uptown coffee shop, Refuel, fully expecting them to be closed on Thanksgiving Day.  To my great joy, Guthrie (the owner) picks up the phone.  "Well, we're not exactly open but I'm cooking up some grits and just brewed coffee.  Run on down here, girl!"

I love this city.

Minutes later, I'm sitting in front of my laptop, shaking my hips to classic New Orleans tunes.  The owner serves me two just-out-of-oven-still-steaming palmiers.  Hallelujah, lord these are delicious.  And sure, why not, I'll take a cup of coffee so long as it doesn't put you out.  So he cooks, I write, we both dance, and wow, there is just so much to be thankful for on this beautiful day in New Orleans.

(As I'm walking out, Guthrie thrusts a casserole dish of his "grits a geaux geaux" with andoille sausage in my arms.  We plan to have lunch the next time he's in DC.  I shake my hips all the way down St. Charles Ave.)
Labels:

Comments

  1. MoNovember 25, 2010 at 1:13 PM

    LOVE. This gave me the biggest smile. Happy T-give, dear friend, and say hello to NOLA from it's biggest west coast fan.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ClintoNovember 25, 2010 at 1:40 PM

    That was FANTASTIC. Love ya Caro so glad to hear you're thanksgiving is so badass!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AronNovember 25, 2010 at 5:24 PM

    I love the way of your writing and finding always the right words and a good sense of humor. It's like Murshid (Hazrat Inayat Khan) said:
    "Humor is a tickling in the thoughts."
    Enjoy New Orleans and your family! Happy Thanksgiving, love and blessings, Aron

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Things to love in December

December can be a tough month.  Winter sets in, darkness descending on day as if it has any right to the five o'clock hour.  Back off, nighttime.  I'm not finished wearing my sunglasses yet.  Oh, and winter clothes?  I much prefer you in boxes under the bed, thank you very little.  Yes, I have been a victim of S.A.D. in years gone past, but this winter, I've resolved to be a fighter.  With that in mind, here are my weapons of winter war, aka things to love in December: 1. The musical delight of Sarah Jarosz , with the energy of early Nickel Creek and the velvet voice of Sarah McLaughlin.  2. " CleanFlame "--fake firewood made from 100% recycled cardboard boxes.  It lights easy, burns long, and doesn't require Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, to cut down several trees in order to keep me warm. 3. My grandfather's memory, summarized beautifully by the Times-Picayune here . 4. Yoga.  Any kind, at any hour, even if it means le...
3 comments
Read more

5K & El Torito

I just ran an impromptu 5K.  With an Ambassador.  From Atlanta.  In Peru.  On the Pacific.  Did I mention I'm not much of a runner?  Turns out running isn't so bad when you have a enthusiastic partner, talking about Latin American politics and the dynamics of US foreign policy.  Whew! The day started with an early meeting at the US Embassy, where we spoke with colleagues who are working on financial inclusion here in Lima.  Then on to a local microfinance organization, Caja Nuestra Gente, to meet with the Executive Vice President.  Though he spoke the fastest Spanish I've heard since living in Chile, I managed to catch most of his presentation.  My favorite part: a new program that offers working capital loans to microentrepreneurs who collect, sort and sell recyclable materials to manufacturers.  Empowering low-income individuals and helping the environment.  I like it. After a delightful lunch with two government lawyers ...
2 comments
Read more