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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.)

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  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

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