In NOLA

[omiceti]

I'm here in New Orleans for the first time, for a conference, and driving into town from the airport (you have to take the bridge made famous by all that horrifying footage of Katrina) I had the wind knocked out of me a little, like everything I remember about Mollie just came rushing back. It has been hard to be here, much harder than I would have

Comments

[cabenson]

Cheers!!

[theholyinnocent]

I haven't been to NOLA in a long time: pre-Katrina, and pre-Mollie. I've wondered what I will feel when I return...like will I expect to see her somehow? It's a strange kind of anticipation, where the real world, the past world, and the cyber world all collide together.

Thank you for this, and yes, cheers, Mollie, wherever you are.

[sandyosullivan]

I've been thinking about Mollie a lot the last few days. I think she might have set me another of her "life's lessons, Sandy!" On the last two trips, I avoided New Orleans, and I think you know I could have gone either time and included it in my research. But it feels like a void for me. I wonder if she'd be unhappy that I feel that way or if she'd say, for fucksakes get over it. I don't really wonder, I know what she'd say.

I think tonight might be an excellent night to have a real toast to Mollie. Maybe the first one I've been able to.

So... cheers!

[sandyosullivan]

Sorry I should clarify the joke... Mollie hated 'life lessons' and thought it should be life's. That was my favourite life's lesson.

[theholyinnocent]

Maybe the first one I've been able to.

I'm really glad to hear this.

I don't know if Mollie would say, "for fuck's sake, get over it," so maybe I should say it instead! She loved NOLA, and I think in a way the city represents the best part of her: They were both truly one of a kind. (And seriously, if you've never been, there's no American city like NOLA. You're missing out by not going there.)

So I think next time you are in the U.S. you should go, and remember & honor the good times and good parts of your friendship with Mollie.

(I hope this doesn't sound like I'm lecturing you--not my intent at all.)