Do you know what it means
To miss New Orleans
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong
The feeling's getting stronger
The longer I stay away
Miss the moist covered vines
The tall sugar pines
Where mocking birds used to sing
And I'd like to see the lazy Mississippi
A hurrying into spring
The Mardi Gras memories
Of creole tunes that filled the air
I dream of oleanders in June
And soon I'm wishing that I was there
Do you know what it means
To miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's something more
I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
My first intention was to share various memories of New Orleans, ranging from Johnny Horton's iconic hit, THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, to the tv series YANCY DERRINGER to the song "Biloxi" by Jesse Winchester, where "the sky is red from off to New Orleans" to the rainbow jumper in 1982 to the HBO series TREME.
Then my own visits to New Orleans. How the folks there look you in the eye, smile and mean it.
Where the coffee is strong at the Cafe Du Monde, and the donuts are too hot to touch.
And just like a fool when those sweet goodies cool, I eat till I eat way too much.
One very early morning, a short drive from the hotel to a parking lot close to a nearly deserted Jackson Square, where there was no line at the Cafe Du Monde.
Then, after getting strong doses of sugar and caffeine, an impromptu drive in the quarter and then on to Magazine Street.
So I ask again: Do you know what it means?
