The Return

How this has just sat here collecting dust, and it may go on doing just that after this post, but since I backed into creating a MySpace just as I backed into this, I figured I'd add a bit here on this 12th day of the 12th month of the 6th year -- threes have always been a hallmark of my life, so this seems like a good day to do something different --

Back in New Orleans for many months now, no longer a refugee from the city, but still not settled, certainly not satisfied -- except for the play of the Saints, that is -- in this crazy excuse for a life in this crazy excuse for a city, it is with great joy that I get to sit back and watch the home team, a team I have suffered with all my life -- I was born in '65, they were born in '66 and it's been a stormy relationship ever since -- I've seen the first half of just about every Saints game ever played, the second half usually finding me playing outside as a kid or switching to something else as an adult -- my most prized possession is a first-year Saints bobblehead complete with the 1967 sticker on the bottom, a possession that was left during the Katrina evacuation and the thing I was most worried about upon returning -- miracle of miracles, it was exactly where I left it when I returned to check on things, along with everything else (a little mold in the fridge not withstanding) -- I've had other teams I've rooted for, most notably the Steelers (starting with Louisiana-born Bradshaw joining the squad), but the Saints have always been THE team, more like a member of the family than just someone to root for on Sundays -- I've lived and died with their play and this year, more than ever, I'm living through them -- the Saints are like a life-preserver, not only for me, but for the entire city and region, and all those opposed to using money to rebuild the Superdome can kiss our collective asses -- just like that first Mardi Gras after the storm, we need the Saints to be here, and for them to be playing like they are makes many things better, both big and small --

So, though this may sit here unread, I send out these thanks to everyone who has made this most memorable of seasons possibly -- I'm not particularly thankful for much nowadays, but the New Orleans Saints have made things much sweeter for this poor refugee from the rest of life -- Geaux SAINTS!!!