Heart pounding through my chest, palms sweating, butterflies going crazy in my stomach and a happiness welling inside of me so great that I fear I may explode.
Yes, I’m in love.
I’m in love with New Orleans.
I do not know what it is exactly about that beautiful, haunting, sensual, dynamic, delicious, ancient, heady, dreamy, passionate contradiction of a city that stole my heart from the moment I hopped out of the cab on Orleans Street in May of 2014 (except for maybe all of those things). All I know is, I’m hooked for life.
For those of you who are unaware, I spent most of my formative years in Ireland. While it was absolutely one of the best and most challenging experiences of my short life thus far, my biggest take away is undoubtedly the lifelong friendships that came out of the whole ordeal. My closest girlfriends today were made in the Sligo Grammar School in the 00’s and we have vowed to meet up at least once a year for the rest of our years, despite the distances and differences our life courses take.
As proof that they are the greatest legends known to mankind, they surprised me this year with the ultimate 30th birthday gift: our 2019 reunion would take place in………………………………………oh, you know it. THE BIG EASY. THE CRESCENT CITY. THE ONE. THE ONLY. NEW. ORLEANS.
Dr. Gemma Reddin
Grainne “International Travelling Businesswoman” Conefrey
Laura Cawley , Attourney-at-Law
Our other pal, Rebecca, sadly had to miss this rendezvous due to being an incredible fashion designer whose talents and all around loveliness was needed in Shanghai that month. Yes, I’m serious. They’re all massively impressive overachievers but I love them anyway. Her fabulous work can be found on her page: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaMarsdenDesign.
Now, while I love sharing blurbs about my amazing photography clients, this is my first “personal” post. But hey, it’s called the Love Story Blog, right? And I certainly love these women, New Orleans and taking/sharing photos…right?!
The following is part travelogue (though I was mostly too busy trying to contain my unadulterated joy to remember to take photographs)/part street photography/part love tribute to New Orleans and these beautiful ladies.
THE JAZZ
Before discovering New Orleans, I really did not dig the jazz scene. It seemed needlessly pretentious, needlessly stuffy and - dare I say - kiiiinda boring.
WELL. My first time visiting Frenchmen Street changed all of that. Jazz - my kind of jazz - is pure joy, energy and exuberance. It’s like all of the things that make life great put to music. I obviously had to take the girls to a few of my favorite clubs in the city, including the Spotted Cat, Maison and the Blue Nile.
Now, my wonderful husband Mark also loves New Orleans (70% for the food, 20% for the beauty, 10% because he loves me ), so I knew I had to get him something he would love. While a copy of the documentary “Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table” was a sure-fire win, I wanted to get him something…..cool. And unusual.
Enter Poems for the People! The talented poet James Laffin (@ifpenguinscouldtype) was given two words from which he had to craft a poem as a gift for Mark back home in Chicago. The words I chose?
Baby Ping.
Because we really are those dorks, I knew a poem about our weird little cat written by a poet on Frenchmen Street who had no idea what the poem was supposed to be about was the perfect keepsake for my sentimental fellow. The results were puh-retty impressive!
THE EXPERIENCE
The reason I can’t really tell you why it is that I love New Orleans so much is that….it’s hard to pin point exactly what this strange and incredible land is. It has to be experienced to be believed.
If you happen to swing by Napoleon House, do me a favor and say hello to Grainne’s owl (the symbol of our group reunions…don’t ask). Also you are allowed to draw on the wall (I asked first because I’m a goodie two shoes).
I highly suggest swinging by The Columns for a cocktail on their beautiful porch (and poke your nose inside - it’s gorgeous). The St. Charles Streetcar rumbling past as you sip your French 75 under the twisting arms of the live oaks is about as close to heaven as I can think of right now.
I could absolutely write a love poem to the wall outside of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. The ferns. The ferns!
MY HAPPY PLACE
Because my husband knows and loves me well, we’ve already booked our trip back for next February (five nights this time!) and I’m already bursting with excitement.
Thank you, New Orleans.
I love you.
Until next time.
Special thank you to Mark Bologna and the Beyond Bourbon Street Podcast! If you love New Orleans a fraction as much as I do or you want to understand what I the fuss is about, I must insist that you stop whatever it is that you’re doing and check it out immediately!