Pete's place and Charmaine's backyard

The very next day we decided to go to Peter Spring place to help out him to do some building. Peter like us is a small operation and he has his hands full. So Al and I figured we’d put our money where our mouth is and help Peter out and get some dirt under our nails for a bit.

Driving down to New Orleans of where we are staying is not a long drive as long as go the right time. If you are going first thing in the morning, it’s bumper to bumper going in. And if you are leaving at around 5 PM to 7PM., it’s the same thing. So the time you go is the key. Folks work in the city but a lot still do not live there.

At the same time, there are folks that are so determine to live in the city in their part of the community. And it seems that the city wants folks to re-build. We talked to one guy and he told us he bought a cheap house for around $20,000. And from what he told us he really did not need a building permit. He has not seen anyone from the city inspectors. He’s almost done with his house and makes wonder if he will ever see anyone from city. So folks have somehow, someway are craving out their lives in spite of all the hoops that one has to jump through, it’s gets downright strange, very strange. Example #232- Here I am at a Capital One bank to make my monthly payment. It says Capital One Bank on the sign so one would think I could make my payment. But that’s too easy. The teller tells me I need to get cash out of my ATM and then give it to here so she can make a money order to send Capital One on an overnight pack. Folks, I am not making this up but some tell me around down here say, “Well, Bill that’s the way it is around here.” So one has to learn to go with the flow and not get too worked up.

We get to Peter’s place and he tells us what he needs to do for that day. It’s been a while since we have seen each other. So we all get caught up on to what each other have been doing. He tells us he is building a room inside his warehouse. So we get our work clothes on and jump right on in. While we are working we meet Dave who works over at WWOZ and is helping Peter. Dave has hitch-hiked around the world and is now recording stories to be put on the air. Now here I bet Dave has a pile of them because everyone has a story to tell down this way. And they keep coming story after story no matter where you go.

Anyway Al and I help out Peter for a few hours and we end up running out of material. So Peter asks, “You guys hungry?” Al and I know whenever we are down this way not only do we play music but we get to eat a lot, I mean a lot. So we say sure, lead the way Pete.

We walk to this lady’s house that has a backyard where she sells home cooked food and uses the money for folks in her small part of the community, damn good idea. At the time Al and I did not know who this was. We walked for a few blocks until we come to this small house. The houses around here remind me of the houses in Key West. There is not much room but the yards are kept up and someone always has a creative way of doing their yards to make it stand out, each one being different and lots of bright colors. While we walk I ask Pete about the schools and he tells me a lot of the schools are ether shut down and running almost on empty because of the money being so damn short. In spite of all this kids and teachers somehow still show up and try to carry on what might not be such a normal day to day.

As we follow Pete he walks right up to this small home and right through this front gate. There is no sign on the gate or the house so this sounds like a word of month kind of thing. We walk to the backyard and are met by this tall beautiful lady who gives Pete a big hug and us too with this grin that covers half her backyard. One of her son’s asked us to sit down and ask us how many of us are hungry. We all look at each other and say, “Yea sure, what do you have?” The son tells us and the smells from the house tells our bellies to go for it. While we wait Charmaine Neville who is a jazz singer and is on here way to the airport for a gig in the DC area, http://www.charmainenevilleband.com/ tells us how she survived those terrible days after Katrina. She told us she was on her roof for 6 days without food or water. As she tells us this she directs her sons as folks are coming and going. She is a striking beautiful woman, very tall and has long fingers. I told her if I was to live around here I would be coming here often and that would make me fat. “That’s ok honey we love fat people too”, she says with a grin that covers half her backyard. While we eat some great home cooking she asked us what we are doing and we tell her about what we are doing with the schools. As she looks at her watch she tells us she has to head to the airport and gives us all a big hug. Hugs and lots of good eating with some great live music is what one does down this way, no matter what.

As we finish up our meal we ask Pete if he wants to jam a little bit. We have not done that since we meet the last time we were down this way. So, with a big grin on his face and his big eyes he says, “Cool lets do it!” We say our goodbyes and thank all for the food. As we walk back Pete and I talk more as to what is going on the ground. Pete has a brisk walk to him. It’s like he is on a mission, and as it so happens he is; he lives it!

Dave also tells us some stories. As impossible as it is to tell you folks who are reading this all the strange and yes, funny stories that have happened here, well, we try. But it would fill volumes as to what has happened here. That is what Dave is trying to capture on tape for the radio station WWOZ. Dave has been out in the field collecting stories from a pile of folks and it is important work! The stories must be told we all feel.

As we pull up to Pete’s warehouse he opens this big roll down door and opens it up to let to air blow through. In May it starts to get hot and Pete does not have cool air so letting out the heat is very important. We walk over to the back end of the warehouse through a field of pianos where everyone seems to jam. We get to jamming with Dave on one of the pianos and Pete on one of the drums and Al and I on our guitars. I am thinking it does not get any better way to end the day.

Still Pickin’

Bill Hudson

Next Post: The shark cage

http://www.dragonfly.com/ is sending entertainers to the devastated areas in Louisiana and Mississippi.