Noteworthy in Nola

We walk an interesting line here in the Irish Channel. One of the early settlers after the projects up the street came down and renovations started going up, we were in a strange position- more affluent than most of our neighbors, we were still on the wrong side of the tracks by some wide margin.

But my daughter was enrolled in one of the right-est of right side schools in the city, so I’ve gotten to see some bizarre extremes in social grace & protocol.

The average upscale white chick in particular wouldn’t think of mentioning it if your boob was hanging out of your shirt, and you had a spreading dark stain on your pants. As a result- and thanks to the fact that I’m a natural mess- I’ve gotten paranoid. I’m ALWAYS sure something serious is wrong with me somewhere, but they’d never be so gauche as to mention it.

Now, my neighbors are a whole other ballgame. I just came inside from yelling at Sam, my stupid & unsocialized but large and therefore useful dog, who was barking frantically at passing air molecules when Junior, our neighbor said hello for the third time today…

… and then jovially added: “Breaking out, eh? Got some pimples!”

Uh…yeah, thanks for pointing that out.

It goes on the list of things that’ve been spontaniously pointed out to me by local black friends & neighbors-

• Gained a little weight from the holidaze, eh?
• Them pants need a hem, no?


• Got some stuff on your shirt, there. (This one has come into play on several occasions)


• You not sleeping good?


• You throwing money away on that trash again?


• You got more grey hair than I thought! You better color it!
• And my all time favorite: You not going up to see your family looking that THAT, are you?

Although initally taken (really) aback by these things, I came to realize that it’s a form of caretaking, and it’s just fine.

So what’re you gonna say? Yeah…you right! I do need to dye my hair, change my shirt, get some extra sleep and generally take better care of myself. In this case, I said yeah…I’ve been working outside alot and it’s been hot. “Yeah,” Junior agreed, “I get pimples when I sweat too!”

And anyway, I’d much rather know about it than find out after the fact that I’d pee’d my pants and had a nip slip!

Similar Posts:

• Breaking up is hard to do…
• Uh… Hi there.
• “Wheres the boobs?”
• Running of the Bulls 2010
• CJ Peete Comes Down.