Nix Bits

So today is our 3rd wedding anniversary. It’s an unfortunate reality that our wedding anniversary will be closely associated with the Katrinaversary, falling just one week later. That first anniversary we were shell-shocked, evacuated in Jackson, MS. We had had reservations at Bella Luna, the place where we had tied the knot. The property Bella Luna was on is owned by the city and was heavily damaged. It has never re-opened.

We made a game attempt of having a nice dinner that night at Trio’s of Jackson. I’m sure all we could talk about was trying to figure out what we were going to do now. Since it was only a week later, everything was really uncertain and unknown. We were hopeful that since Bella Luna was right on the river that our 2nd anniversary dinner could be there.

It was at that dinner on that night that I heard the first “hater” mouthing off a couple of tables away.

He wasn’t advocating New Orleans not be rebuilt, although I’d be willing to bet he does now. But he was relishing the fact that “they had finally found a way to empty the projects in New Orleans.” He was not a New Orleanian. There were other, similarly racist, comments made.

We really didn’t know what to do. I wanted to confront the man directly, but at the same time, I didn’t want to ruin our evening. His mouthing off was doing an ample job of ruining what little bit of peace we had though. My wife, ever the psychologist, came up with a way to address the issue.

We originally had no intention of mentioning that we were from New Orleans and had lost everything. We weren’t looking for a free meal or sympathy. But this jerk’s mouth needed to be quieted before I attacked him with my fork. So my wife made a point of loudly discussing our situation with the waiter. She explained that this was our first anniversary and we were happy to be able to have a nice meal in spite of losing our home in New Orleans. I’m not sure if the waiter knew what she was doing but she was sympathetic enough.

It worked, though. We could see the people at the rude table trying not to look over at us, but clearly doing so. We were well dressed because we had thought to pack our nicest clothes. Actually we had very little in the way of casual clothes with us. He shut up and they left soon after.

It’s frustrating because I don’t want our anniversary associated with this event. I don’t want to feel this low-grade anger and outrage that has been a constant part of daily existence since 8/29/2005 on today of all days. At least tonight we won’t hear anybody ignorantly spouting off that New Orleans should just be abandoned. Tonight we’ll have a meal in our own home town surrounded by our neighbors and served by people who have been and are exactly where we are.

It’s good to be home with my wife on this, our wedding anniversary.  We have a new home and a good life and we feel like now we can get through just about anything life throws our way.