SOLOWPOET

Over the years working in the oil fields of Louisiana I have had the privilege of going to some small city’s and meeting some good small time folk and one such place was “Des Allemands” located in the boondocks of st.charles parish,this here is catfish country the folks here eat ,sleep and eat catfish. surrounded by a bunch of small lakes and waterways the catfish is prime pickings.
Now the folks of des allemands not only like their catfish it also a pretty active farming community ,growing such local favorites as Creole tomatoes and okra.
The folks in this town are also or known for one more thing …Festivals and of course the biggest of them all is the catfish festival, man for 3 days you can smell the catfish and hear the zydeco music clear on down to New Orleans, man talking about a good time after that festival I don’t even wanna see no catfish….for about a week(lol), so come on down and have a catfish eating good time.

Just sitting there at one of the edges of the Louisiana gulf coast is a quaint little city that is a throwback to when taking it easy was the daily motto of all the town folk. Grand Isle is a fishing community that sits right on the beach of the gulf of mexico is molded on the scale of that television show cheers,where everybody knows your name and this is truly the case of this wonderful little city. For over ten years i worked offshore and we use to board the helicopter right at the edge of town,but we use to get there early so that we could visit some of our adopted family,man they would feed us and talk about the annual tarpon rodeo as if it was Christmas..it wasn't to them it was much bigger. Those folks would sit around and talk and make fun of the summer tourist who just couldn't adjust to easy living and would often pull out soon after getting there......good riddance ,it was there lost. Listen that little place holds a special place in my heart not to mention my stomach.

Palfrey Street is the street where my father's parents stayed and i would visit many weekends and summers,and something i never understood is why the whole neighborhood would make such a big deal when i would come over.
Seems like everyone from Mr. Dow,who owned the little bar on the corner to the crew at the firestone on down to the entire taco bell staff seemed as if they were expecting my visit,now this was a close knit neighborhood but really now,anyway I'd make my way over to the trampolines field and seem like every one would be filled except the one i liked best.....mmmmmmmm,I felt as though i was some some sort of celebrity that these people were waiting for me to hit town,it was as if they knew i would be coming and thats because they did ,I later found out the grandmothers in that neighborhood would talk about the pending visits from their grandchildren so much that it would become a community project,NOW THAT'S A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH GREAT GRANMOTHERS!

If any of you have been in the belly of the beast that is bourbon street you know of what i speak in the title which is one of our greatest mardi gras traditions,so let's see you know about the strip clubs,you know about the fine foods available on this strip and of course you know about the rowdy crowds that can get so out of hand that the police have to grease the poles,o.k. i'll give you all of that.....now go on down on bourbon st. on a regular day,(if there is such a thin in this great city of ours) and meet the real people of New Orleans,then come talk to me about lasting impressions!

Imagine sitting in a tree lined backyard about half the size of a football field,birds over head whistling as if there are no worries in the world,there aren't any, and the squirrels play catch ...up ,down and around the
trees.
Imagine neighbors so friendly that the horns constantly honk as each car goes buy and acknowledges
his or her neighbor...every time they go by(Lol),but this is by far the most laid back street I've lived on now ,maybe it may be do to the fact that there quite a few senior citizens on the block ,but hey,they still no how to get their party on just in a respectable manner and that's what really makes this block the cream of the crop.

Woodstream drive is the street that my lovely sister stays on and one which i was fortunate enough to stay on for awhile with her.
Now although the people on wood stream kind of tend to keep to themselves they are friendly enough,but all that is vastly overshadowed by the beauty and secure feeling of the place.
Located right near jean lafitte park it is also an ideal spot for the outdoorsmans .
There''s still plenty of woods and Forrest in the area,so one wouldn't be surprised to see a dear in their backyard,so yaeh i would say that pretty much makes up for the people being a little to themselves

Murl st.,yes, this is where i came of age,where i first learned what it was to have and extended family.
My family had just moved out of one of new orleans notorious housing projects so this place was like paradise complete with our own back yard and swing sets that you could actually swing on.
This is were i had my first little kiss ,learned to play sports and also suffered my first heartbreak,but it was all worth it because i built some strong friendships that i still hold dear to this day,and even though there's a new generation of people there's still some of the old faces around ,which is all the reason i need to drop in every now and again.

Marsh creek was the second place we moved to after relocating to Dallas.
located at 18749 marsh lane in north Dallas this street was really nice,with about four complexes surrounded by a network of creeks this place had a really serene beauty to it.
Every body would meet at the park in the middle of the complex and just enjoy natures wonders.
there was a basketball court ,swimming pools.picnic tables and bbq grills,plus the folks were super friendly and don't forget that gorgeous creek,man i would sit there for hours on end just watching the little fish swim by,so if your ever in the north Dallas area on marsh lane take a detour to the creek it will be well worth it.

Just after hurricane Katrina we were relocated to Dallas,north Dallas to be exact,to the park apartments on Rosemeade parkway,man those folks were really nice to us, they Throwed us a pool party ,gave use food and clothes and just overall opened there arms to use ,but i came to learn they weren't just acting nice they were really nice folks by nature ,they stood up for one another threw any adversity and looked out for one another ,plus it didn't hurt that they had some really nice swimming pools and weight rooms.
I just want to thank those good folks on rosemeade drive....oh! and they sure could cook some good BBQ!

ROYAL street is one of those streets you can't truly appreciate until the day after,it is full of wonderful antique shops and one of a kind boutiques .
Located Just one street over from the world infamous bourbon street ,Royal street offers a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle into the sublime and downright eccentric ambiance that is on display by the somewhat peculiar shop owner ,but don't let that divert you away from our city's little gem.
Come on ,take a walk on the quite side

Everything you ever heard about the infamous Decatur st. is probable more scandalous than reported.
The secret no name bars,the ladies of the evening it's all true,bit it's not pushed in your face tou have to be looking for that...p.s...be very very careful not to look for that,plus the street has so much more to offer like the wonderful shops and eateries.then you can mozy on down to the french market and check out the world famous Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand and eat some of those d tasty beignets .
After you get nice and full it's time to enjoy the riverfront in all its' splendor ,so come on down and see us .........ya here!

Every since Louis Armstrong fired that pistol on the corner of Basin and st.ann it's been off to the races for those who dare venture on to the gritty perils that is basin street,which turns into Orleans st.
Rich in history and mystic the street is most famous for it's jazz and blues music houses,plus it also bolsters one of the words most famous restaurants....Dooky Chase's,were Mrs. Leah chase STILL TO THIS DAY PREPARES ONE OF THE MEANEST POTS OF GUMBO on this God's green earth,and will sing most vocalist under the table they just dined at.
Now, this street is not for the tame nor the faint of heart because it is also home to one of New Orleans most ruthless housing projects(the lafitte) which resides right across the street from Dooky chase's Restaurant.
All those Presidents and entertainers just don't know how lucky they were to be dining in the Queen of Basin and Orleans st . Restaurant or that meal would have not digested so well,but threw all of this it is more than worth the trip into New Orleans history to come on down to BASIN and ORLEANS.

"Big chief got plenty of fire water"...That would be the chant coming from the local Indian tribe on a given Sunday during second line season,which past right threw our heritage rich Treme neighborhood on barracks st. in New Orleans,LA
For those of you who don't know, a second line is a celebration of sort given by the local social and pleasure club,funerals of our fallen hero's often headlined this ritualistic venue.
On our barracks street block which was about a mile from the French quarter,we would always have our own pre-second line,or mardi gras party.
We were a close knit group of crazy revelers who looked after one another and partied hard

Living on kings rd. was the best time I have ever had without going out to a club....we didn't have to because we would find any little reason to celebrate .....oh! that lights are out on the street well every body would just roll out their grills and light the block up.
We would celebrate anything from kids birthdays to car wrecks,no kidding.
Once one of my neighbors house burned completely down all but the deep freezer was melted and as we tried to comfort her,as we ourselves were shedding tears she looked at us ans stated very flatly are you all gonna cry are help me get this smoked meat out the deep freezer so we can finish it off..................sonny boy go get that grill.