My trip to New Orleans

I went to New Orleans last week - the first trip my husband and I have taken without the kids since our honeymoon 12 years ago! It was a business trip for him, but he did have a lot of free time which was fun. I enjoyed the alone time shopping anyway; it's never fun to bring a hubby shopping you know? Even if he is patient, you just know he's not into it.

There were several highlights for me in New Orleans. We went to daily Mass each morning in the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral and Basilica right in Jackson square. Loved it!

And then after Mass each day, we just walked across the square and had breakfast at the famous Cafe du Monde. REALLY loved it!!

Another highlight for me was meeting my dear friend Lisa in person! She is someone I have known for a few years now from my online group Catholic Women Together, but this is the first time we met in person. She and her husband and son drove for nearly 3 hours to New Orleans to meet me and my husband - Thanks Lisa!!!!!! We all went for a river cruise on the Mississippi on an old Steamboat. Despite the unusually cool weather it was a wonderful day! Our families got along great, just like I knew we would, and it was just so good getting to know them better.

The one negative thing about New Orleans, and I'm sure this won't surprise you, is Bourbon Street. Actually, I really thought I knew what I was getting into when we decided to walk down Bourbon. I mean, I've been around and I have seen some stuff, I really have, I used to live in downtown Baltimore for Pete's sake, but I had never actually experienced the pit of Hell until I walked down Bourbon Street. What was truly shocking for me was not so much the drinking (expected that) or the strip clubs (expected that) or even the sex clubs - yes sex!! clubs (did not expect that, but wasn't surprised) - what was truly shocking was that it was the same at 3:00 in the afternoon as it was at 3:00 in the morning! Everywhere else I've ever been, the light has chased the sin into the shadows. It still goes on but it hide behinds closed doors and waits for the dark. But not on Bourbon Street. And now I know the smell of immorality. Yes, it has an actual smell. I am pretty sure that it is exactly what Hell smells like. Really.

Two incidents have stayed with me. One was the family we saw panhandling with their toddler girl (probably 2 maybe 3 years old). I stopped to give them money, but I didn't ask their names. I have made it my habit in the last year to ask homeless people their names so I can pray for them. I try to even hold their hand and look in their eyes. But I am sad to say that I was intimidated by being with a group of people I don't know that well (my husband's co-workers) and I didn't ask. That has haunted me since I made the conscious decision to walk away. The other incident is similar. Walking down the street I saw in the doorway of a club a very sad looking woman dressed in the outfit of a dominatrix doing a little jiggley dance to attract customers. Next to her was a man, totally indifferent to her plight, holding a sign that said (please forgive my bluntness) "Tits and Whiskey". I had an urge to go ask her name, and hold her hand, but again, I let my fear of embarrassment override this command (it felt like that - an internal command) and I averted my eyes and walked away. I felt like I failed her. I can't get it out of my mind. But I know we can waste time on regret, we have to move forward, so I have taken these people to Mass with me since then, and I have kept them in my prayers.

On Bourbon Street there is a world of misery. Sex/strip clubs advertise "barely legal" teens girls and there must be hundreds of them there. Teens, older women, it doesn't matter, all I know is it means that there are hundreds of abused, addicted, demoralized women there, having their dignity stripped from them every day. Their customers too are stripped of all dignity. Everyone is drunk or on drugs, or both, and completely enslaved to sin and lack of self control. In that town, right there with that beautiful Cathedral, voo doo is being hawked, magick is being cast, and people are being enslaved and sold for the "pleasure" of others. We have to pray for that city!! Please keep them all in your prayers.

But at the same time, I saw the beautiful side. The wonderful faithful Catholics at Mass each morning, I particularly noticed several law enforcement officers there - they really need it in that town. I can't imagine being a policeman/woman in that town without the Eucharist each day! And I had lovely conversations in outdoor cafes and in shops. It really is a beautiful city, but I am haunted, just haunted by what I saw on that street. So please keep the city of New Orleans in your prayers.

Okay, I hate ending this on a downer because, overall, I had a great time. I actually recommend New Orleans as a destination spot - just not Bourbon Street. Really, it is a fabulous and beautiful city. And of course, it was awesome being with just my husband for the first time in over a decade!