The Facts of Life: You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

 

The Bad

The last 48 hours have been a bit of a roller coaster.  You see, just before we got on the road to head to New Orleans, we learned that the seller of the house we are under contract for is backing out of the sale. My little heart is broken.  It was the first house I have seen that I really loved.  It was a house I pictured living in for a long time.  And I am so sad that it will not be ours.   

About three hours into our drive, a car swerved into the right lane, and we hit a semi tire in Mark's Mini Cooper.  Ouch!  The a/c went out immediately and there were pieces of the car dragging the ground.  We pulled off the road and were able to get the car into drivable condition, but on our stop, our dog Annie peeped on me.  So we spent the five hours after that in a teeny car with no a/c smelling very badly.   

The Good

We are alive to see another day.  I have to tell you that when I think about what could have happened when we hit that tire, it makes my stomach turn.  I feel so grateful that we are safe and that we made it safely to New Orleans.  

We had a great day tailgating for the NFL Season opener.  The city was as alive as it has ever been.  There were people everywhere in black and gold.  It was pure happiness.  In the Dome, they projected the Dave concert on the big screens.  When Kermit Ruffins and Trombone Shorty joined him on stage, the Dome went crazy!  And then the Mardi Gras Indians...  And seeing how gorgeous the city looked with the St. Louis Cathedral peeking out over the crowd.  It made me realize that a house does not make a home.  We are coming HOME!  After seeing New Orleans look as proud and joyous and regal as it looked last night, I could love in a tent as long as I live here.

The Saints win, the Saints win!!!  It was an ugly win, but they count just the same.  The best part of the game actually happened before the clock ever started.  With a crowd of over 70,000, the Saints dropped the World Champions banner.  It was a moment I had hoped for all my life.  To see it happen before my eyes was so emotional.  And one of the greatest moments I have had in the Dome was led by the greatest QB in Saints history.  Just before the game started, Drew marched to the 30 yard line, raised his arms and signaled to the fans to start the "Who Dat" chant.  Imagine 70,000 people chanting in unison.  The sound filled every space and void in the stadium.  It was chilling.

So now we have set out to find a new house.  We will spend the rest of our weekend enjoying this city and all it has to offer knowing that it is home.