New Orleans Memory
Maybe a bit more than fifteen but less than twenty years ago, I remember I would go to New Orleans, not to perform, but to network, whatever that means or meant to me at the time. There were lots of television conventions there, and I was a budding TV star, and I was sent off to these events to see and be seen, to take pictures with television station representatives and affiliates, to be warm and welcoming and un-star-like while still pretending for their benefit to be a star. And even though TV critics hailed my arrival with insults, for they thought me awkward and ungainly, sometimes even ugly, in truth I was so pretty that if you saw me in person I would take your breath away, like the powdered sugar poured on top of beignet donuts from the Café du Monde, should you be foolish and unfortunate enough to inhale while eating them.
New Orleans was a miracle to me – this mysterious close and warm and sultry wrought iron labyrinth, where the rain would sometimes fall or sometimes just hang suspended in the air, so you would have to walk through the water to get anywhere all the time. I wore crisp white cotton dresses that would wilt and grow transparent from the damp river breeze and cling longingly to my curves and even the gay men would turn their heads when I walked by on Decatur. Those endless, feverishly hot nights teetering in high heels in circles all around the French quarter, my mouth sour from hurricanes from Pat O’Brian’s, my young and lovely head spinning from the all the different types of alcohol needed for the concoction - these lively summer outings enjoying the very prime of my youth were rowdy and thrilling, but there was an innocence to the revelry, as these were the long lost days before “Girls Gone Wild,” and I never felt afraid to be a beautiful young woman amongst the throngs of drunken frat boys. The men looked at the women of course, as they always did and still do, but there was worship in their eyes, not contempt, so when they whistled at you, you were more than likely to turn your head and smile, rather than pick up your pace, as if that would help you become invisible.
One young man called to me from a balcony, as I walked in my see-through white dress drunken glory down Bourbon Street. He was an adorable young comic, who everyone had very high hopes for. I had met him just one or two times before. His name was Jon Stewart. I beckoned him down to the street and he appeared before me almost instantly. We walked together, excited to have both met a familiar face in the raucous crowd and talked and laughed as the human tide buoyed us along. It got late and we decided to part ways and turn in, and I remember leaving him in a taxicab, hard to find in the wilderness of the Big Easy. We had hunted that cab down, stalked it until it bent to our will, until it drove us where we needed to go. He kissed me on both cheeks and waved to me as the cab drove him into the dark Louisiana night, and oh, how gorgeous he was, how funny, and I felt a flutter in my tummy, and I thought, one day that boy will be grow up to be king. I was so right about that, wasn’t I?
April 15th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
This was beautiful. I imagine you writing this on your white-washed veranda, sipping delicately from your high-baller glass filmed to the brim with a sweet mint julep. Yes, you typing away in your large brimmed hat and stark white linen while the beads of sweat collect on your bosom, smiling at the sound of a fiddle in the background and Designing Women playing in the parlor.
New Orleans was truly a wonderful southern city; but Girl, come to Savannah, GA. We will show you a good ole’ time.
April 15th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Ah, Jon Stewart! The dreamiest man on television, I think. Ok, maybe a three-way tie between him, Matthew Fox and Anderson Cooper. He’s the sexiest man on Comedy Central, anyway.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:49 am
I’m not even from Savannah (or the South) and I’ve only been to Savannah once but I LOVED it. I agree with Kyle, go (but read Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil before you go to get a sense of the atmosphere)! I absolutely fell in love with Savannah.
And Jon Stewart, oh! He seems like such a gentleman. I’m glad you had that experience with him. Now you need to go on The Daily Show and tell everyone that story.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:56 am
never ben to NOLA but felt like I had through your words. Thanks!
April 16th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
It really is a great city…and very gay friendly, and dog friendly, honestly…just friendly.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
We’re still here. Come visit us some time.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I loved the story. I am from New Orleans and moved to Las Vegas after the storm and I miss home so much and your story made me feel great. THANK YOU!!
April 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I’m always impressed by the way you’ve got your head screwed on straight about stuff like this. Your ability to think clearly astonishes me some times. Why can’t more people see what’s right in front of their eyes.
Speaking of Jon Stewart, I’ve been looking around for the clip of your appearance on Jon’s old MTV show — ahh, the latex dress. It isn’t on YouTube. Any idea where I could find it? Maybe Jon’s got it.
April 20th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
You are a great writer! I am from Louisiana, not New Orleans, though I feel a specific attachment to the city and have often thought about moving there even though life is so much easier and comfortable in my adopted home, Portland. I think this post gets at a lot of how I feel about the city, all my memories from my many visits there are vivid and emotive. In spite of everything that has happened there (not just Katrina) people fight to stay there and keep the city alive. Things are more or less normal there again, different for sure, but back in a different way. If you have never been there you have to go. It is really one of the few places in the US where you can go and really feel like you’re traveling.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
New Orleans still IS truly a wonderful southern city. Thank you Margaret for taking time once more to sing its praises. I’ve lived in the Big Easy just under a decade, came here when I was 17. Somehow the city seduces me with an even greater ferocity with each day that passes. It’s always good to know I am not the only one who’s heart and other girly bits are captured by its sweetness.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 am
Jon is king, or even a demi-god. And if so, you are pretty much an empress yourself. Maybe a Guan Yin?
April 25th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Thanks for the “shout out” to my hometown. I love living in New Orleans, there is always something to do, and someone to do it with. Our city has a certain feel about it, you either like the feel, or you don’t. Most people feel it. I have always lived here, and will never leave ! I am/was hoping you’d bring your show down here, Think about it, we love you !
oxox