National Public Radio had a luminous story this morning about the Bordelons, a family trying to rebuild in my old neighborhood, St. Bernard Parish. This was my first time hearing them, but apparently NPR has been following their story for quite some time now, and they seem to be very popular.
With good reason. The Bordelons reminded me, after much recent bad press about New Orleans, why I love the city so much. Despite losing everything in the hurricane, the Bordelons continue to be upbeat and happy. They waited months for a FEMA trailer, only to turn it over to relatives as soon as it arrived because the relatives had no place to live. They continue to live on the second floor of the house (the bottom floor is stripped to the studs because of flood water damage), with no electricity, and are simply happy with what little they have. There is no self-pity. Just an unshakable belief that as long as life goes on, there will always be an opportunity to pass a good time.*
And they sum New Orleans up. New Orleans and all South Louisiana have always had a certain devil-may-care attitude towards life, partially reflected in the well known Cajun phrase, "Laissez les bon temps rouler" ("Let the good times roll"). This attitude is very frustrating when issues of social reform come up, but is absolutely wonderful when times get tough. The Bordelons are not unique; they are typical of people I have known all my life.
It may not be possible for me to live in New Orleans all my life, but I certainly want to die there.
Note: In the interest of being picayune, I will point out that NPR makes an error in referring to the Bordelon's home as St. Bernard's. It is correctly called St. Bernard Parish.
*A Cajun phrase my grandfather used to use.