For what it's worth

I gotta say it.

No, Marti, says the still, small and often ignored voice of discretion

they'll think you're a redneck

you'll get hate mail

but I gotta say it.

Before I say it, let me give you some background on me.....

I am a card carrying member of the ACLU

I can quote long snatches of Dr. King's speeches by heart.

In high school , I was on the Committee for School Desegregation.

I sang my babies to sleep with "We Shall Overcome"

Not a racist, okay?

I can not stand the hip hop culture.

I can't stand they way the songs speak of women.

I don't like the blatant vulgarity.

The angry attitude turns me off.

I teach in an inner city school.

I see children emulating rappers and I want to tell those guys that the kids look up to that they should be ashamed of what they are showing them....

the emphasis on money

anger

violence.

Here I am telling the kids "if you want to be suceessful , pull up your pants, speak correctly and get a job!"

"Forget that mean expression , all it will get you is high blood pressure if you're lucky and a bullet if you are not!"

 

Bay St Louis, Mississippi

 I went to visit my dear friends Craig and Stacey in Bay St Louis, MS.

This is one of the most charming small towns in the world, curled up next to the Gulf of Mexico like a kitten.

 While Stacey and I drove around places we have loved, I kept hearing this song by Bruce Springsteen in my head.

One year and 10 months after Katrina, here's what Mississippi looks like....

MY CITY OF RUINS

There's a blood red circle
On the cold dark ground

 

And the rain is falling down
The church door's thrown open

 

I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone

 

My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Now the sweet bells of mercy
Drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner
Like scattered leaves

 

 

The boarded up windows
The empty streets

 

 

 

 

While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on rise up! Come on rise up!
Come on rise up! Come on rise up!
Come on rise up! Come on rise up!
Come on rise up! Come on rise up!

Now there's tears on the pillow
Darlin' where we slept
And you took my heart when you left

 

Without your sweet kiss
My soul is lost, my friend
Tell me how do I begin again?
My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins

 

 

 

Now with these hands
With these hands
With these hands
With these hands
I pray Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the strength, Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the faith, Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for your love, Lord
With these hands
With these hands
I pray for the strength, Lord
With these hands

With these hands
I pray for your love, Lord
With these hands
With these hands

I pray for the faith, Lord
With these hands
With these hands                           
I pray for the strength, Lord

Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!

 

What really gets to me is;  I keep hearing the catch in Stacey's voice when she missed a turn and said,"All my landmarks are gone".

A New Adventure, An Old Story

Up at six AM, and on the road to Craig and Stacey's

Caitlin was so excited!

 

The road to a friend's house is never too long.....

When we got there, they were still asleep.

What a wonderful thing to have friends who love you so much you can walk in their door, hollering ,"Where's the bloody Mary's?" and they get up and fix them for you!

It's all the same Porch, where friends gather. It's a state of mind,as well as a place.

 

So now we all pile into their car, and it's off to the JazzFest in New Orleans.

We have all been partying together for over 20 years....

And we are passing on good genes!

Here we go!

 

                                                        Maintaining decorum,

of course.

 

A beautiful day for the Fest.

We saw John Mayer, The Allman Brothers

 

Dancing

More Dancing

 

Still more dancing

 

And did some ourselves  

 

Note:An ice cube in the bra is a great heat reducer!

 See how cool?

Ian and Caitlin have been friends since before they were born.

.

A great day , full of sun, music,

 

kissin'

dancin'

laughin'

drinkin

Then home for long stories by the fire

and bed