Connie’s Corner • Mar 25

Hello to all my family and friends. Hoping everyone is in good health and spirits. Karen and I made it home from New Orleans! The food was great! The entertainment is not only daily, but all day long whether in businesses, or on the streets, or on CDs in their shops. The people are very nice. We did a lot of walking and walking and SHOPPING! I was able to go into Immaculate Conception Church and take pictures. It was beautiful. I thought the back of the pews was carved wood, but it was wrought iron. The main altar was brass. I wasn’t able to get into the cathedral though.

Speaking of wrought iron, Louisiana must be the capital of it.  Balconies and porches everywhere and mostly all wrought iron. It looked great against salmon, aqua, violet, pink, and yellow, or any other color they painted their homes and businesses (my purple house would have fit right in.  LOL!).  

The wedding was the best!  Mark and Nicholas were so happy and handsome.  The wedding was held in the courtyard of the hotel in front of the fountain.  Of course, between the exchanging of the vows and the “Ave Maria” playing in the background, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  Nicholas and I got to have a little dance together. After the wedding, we went tripping down the street to the “Golden Lantern,” their neighborhood gay bar which has shows all the time.  When we got there the entertainer was doing the Pussy Cat song, and of course, I thought of Charlotte Parr, and Liz. The next entertainer did one of Georgia Jackson’s old numbers, “You came a Long Way from St. Louis.”  I felt right at home.

New Orleans is a whole different world. From the 7-year old boy who drums on the corner with his plastic buckets, and drum sticks, to stepping of the homeless passed out on the sidewalk, to the dilapidated buildings, to the beautiful artwork and architecture, and of course, the excellent food. I can’t wait to go back and see what I missed.

The people in New Orleans were so nice and uplifting even though they are in the same boat all of Americans are in. Karen and I arrived six days before St. Patrick’s Day, and we were excited until we landed and learned all festivals had already been canceled. And just like Columbus, they were closing up more businesses too, and Karen and I came home early. It was still one of the best times I have ever had—not only just being in New Orleans and the wedding—but we got to spend it all with Karen’s granddaughter, and my great-niece, Delaney. What a treat and blessing it was. She went everywhere with us. She was in the bar and she road on our first float in the Gay Pride Parade at the Southbend. The first person she asked about was Jesse. We told her he had passed.

Delaney is in her 2nd year of college and is studying to become a brain surgeon. She wants to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. I told her she better hurry if you want to see your Aunt Connie to grow old with all her wits about her. He laughed. Delaney is 19 now and smart not only book-wise, but smart in life and her awareness of everything that goes on around her. She is always pleasant to be with. I miss her already, as I miss all of you too. When I got home, I’ve tried to call a few of our friends like Marvin, Steve, Big Al, Ed and Jim, Brad, Al, Kenny, George, Carla, Jeff, Erika, Mickey, and of course our staff too. I will be calling more as soon as I get word out and get phone numbers. This is where Facebook comes in handy because I can’t get your face right now, but SOON! We hope.

Everyone I’ve talked to is doing well and asks that I tell all of you they are all thinking and missing each other. Val, Bill, and I were saying Sunday this is the hardest part to adjust to in our everyday life is not being able to see our Southbend family and friends. You know, I have to always look at the positive side of everything. This is a time to spend by yourself, maybe meditate, spring clean your house, garden, take a walk, or remember that old hobby you haven’t touched in months or years. Pick up the phone or get on Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends. Or look at it this way. There will be either a lot of divorces or a baby boom coming. There’s one thing they can’t blame the LGBTQIA community for!

On the news the other night, I saw where some people were putting out their Christmas lights again. My friend Lois Mann has a restaurant at the corner of Hosack and South High Street. She has her place decorated for Christmas all year round. I know some of us go there. By the way, Lois is open for to-go orders of her home-cooked food from 7 AM to 5 PM.

I was in Popeye’s drive-through last Wednesday for 30 minutes. I decided to cook from home and been eating different foods and trying some new recipes.

I, like most of you, have never experienced anything like this.  I can’t ever remember being not able to go to church. I received a letter in the mail a day before our quarantine that our church will be closed through April 12th.  That’s EASTER! I pray that all of us are well and this will not be prolonged too much longer. I have all of you in my thoughts, my heart, and my prayers.  

I will be keeping in touch with some of you by phone and the rest on my next, “Connie’s Corner.” I will leave you now with this one last thought;

Never hold yourself back from doing what term it is you want to do in life.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Love, 

Connie