Closings & Openings

14 Years ago we moved into our first home as a married couple in the Soup Bowl.

Our perfect little home... all of 1400 square feet had been a HUGE leap for us both emotionally and finanically. It was my first home away from the home that I grew up in for over 25 years and I remember thinking that it would never feel like "home." When we bought it, it was pink and black on the outside and didn't even have floors...but it had one beautiful Japanese Magnolia tree in the front yard that we adored from the very start.

Allen & Dad painstakingly nailed down the subfloors by hand so that the wood floors could be installed. We painted, we scrubbed, we decorated, we knocked down and we painted again and AGAIN.

We loved it....from top to bottom and it loved us back. It sheltered us from Katrina and provided me the only safe place & comforting haven when I was suffering so deeply. It protected me from all the instability that surrounded us.

It welcomed 2 children, 14 wedding anniversaries, countless birthdays and other celebrations that meant so much to us. It was here we said goodbye to our two loving cats...first Bean then Binx and our little family is still not complete without them. Now it is our turn to say goodbye to our little home that unfortunately is not growing as quick as we are.

It has been almost two weeks that we did our house closing. I was crushed when I realized I didn't get to say goodbye. Teary eyed as we signed the final paper, the new owner saw how pathetic I looked and allowed us to keep a key so I could say a proper goodbye and thank you and off I went. It felt so good to walk through once more...all alone to say a prayer of thanks.

It is now time for new openings....new paths and a new place to call home. We are not sure where it will take us yet and how our story will continue but we know and love that 132 Haroleans will be forever in our thoughts.

We started as 2 and leave as 4.

Thank you from all our hearts...Kellie, Allen, Cole and Carly

We Believe!

Last week in the Soup Bowl our former "Recovery Czar" said some extremely harsh words about our city...gee, get in line Mr. Blakely. Yet, in the midst of the continued criticism that we seem to face daily we have been experiencing some of the most exciting and invigorating events our city has seen in a LONG time!

First up: Two weeks ago, workers turned on the refurbished marquee lights at our very own Saenger Theatre which has been vacant since the witch "K" came through. If you grew up in the Soup Bowl you will always remember your first trip to the Saenger...perhaps it was to see Annie with your Mom and sisters like I did! What a night. I couldn't imagine not being able to bring my children to see their first theatre performance or Nutcracker Ballet at Christmas so this is truly a cause for much celebration. One thing I know for sure is that when 2011 rolls around we will be at the doors waiting for that first performance to that grand and exquisite piece of our history.

Second up: Last week was the Grand Opening of the expansion of the National World War II Museum & the awesome 4-D Victory Theatre movie! I got to take a sneak peak of the venue and it is truly one of the most innovative and first-class facilities in the COUNTRY. This place gives you shivers it is so impressive and it is NOT located in Washington D.C. or New York it is HERE in the Soup Bowl!

Last but certainly not least is the Saints. You would have to live under a rock in our WHO DAT NATION to not feel the positive vibe of our 8-0 team! I got to help produce an event for Feed The Children a few weeks ago with the Saints Offensive Line in tow helping to raise funds for the charity. As they stood on the front steps for a photo op it was a surreal moment looking at what COULD BE the next Superbowl Winning Team! On top of all this excitement, local band Cowboy Mouth just released a brand new single called "I Believe" that pretty much sums it all up for us so if you haven't heard it get ready for some inspiration!

I have said it before and I will say it again...it really is little to do about football or grand openings or our our food. IT'S ABOUT US. WE are what makes New Orleans special.

WE BELIEVE. We believe we are worth re-building at every level. We believe we stand together as people and as a city...faults and all. We believe we are worth fighting for. We believe in our children's future in this city. We believe in a Quarterback and Coach to lead a very SPECIAL team and city to a first-time victory!

So goodbye Mr. Blakely...we don't need you to believe because we believe in ourselves.

Final Score This Week: Soup Bowl 3 Former Recovery Czar 0

The SUNNY Side of the "Boro"

About 45 minutes from Nashville is a city called Murfreesboro, TN. The "Boro" as it is apparently called by many locals, became the home of my sister (our "Sunny") and her family after hurricane Katrina changed their path in life. In the past four years we have called the Boro many things...temporary home, holiday vacation spot, storm evacuation safe haven and probably most often...the place that took a big part of our beloved family away.

Although it would be very easy to remain bitter or depressed about this fact, the truth is that it is the very BEST place for our Sunny and her family to be. My neices, Amanda and Alison who are now 17 and 16 years old, have thrived there. It is a beautiful, safe and a friendly place that has opened a better life away from the Soup Bowl for a part of our family. Our "Sunny" as my sister is called, got her name from my grandparents who called her their "Sunshine" and they would have loved the Boro. She wasn't just THEIR Sunny though. If you meet my sister you quickly begin to realize that her affect on the lives she touches goes way beyond the terms sister, daughter, wife, friend and Aunt. She is much more than those words to all of us.

Several weeks ago we spent some time in the very SUNNY side of the Boro. I knew it would be a special trip when on the night before our departure our son Cole allowed me to blow dry his hair for the very first time because "he wanted to look good for Amanda & Alison" (his cousins who he thinks are goddesses apparently!).

The Sunny side of the Boro includes WAY too many gifts, ice cream, games and enough activities day and night to fill a four year old's dream. Speaking of 4 year old's, Cole actually turned 4 during our visit. A special day that included a trip to the Nashville Zoo, new "Life is Good" shirts, pizza, Wii games, an AWESOME Spiderman bike, slip n' slide AND a Spongebob Squarepants Birthday bash were all on the agenda and are still being talked about now that we are back at home. For me, it was the first birthday - (4 years later) that my head wasn't filled with memories of how we spent Cole's first birthday arrival into a world in utter chaos that Katrina left us.

It was perfect in too many ways and once again way too hard to say goodbye, yet...our Life in the Soupbowl calls and so another goodbye filled with way too many tears on my part occurs followed by that emptiness that never gets filled once we are apart.

First Best Friends

At one week shy of turning 4, our son Cole made his first real friendship connection a little over a year ago at his current school located in the Soup Bowl. To be honest it was a set-up...after I basically begged his Mother to have her son check on Cole during his first day of after-care at school. Being the EXTREME worrying soul that I am, I suppose I thought Cole would fall to pieces on that day...feel abandoned or concerned that I would never pick him up perhaps.

Well, that's when William came in to our life and stepped up to the challenge of becoming Cole's first best friend. Not an easy task for anyone to take on since Cole did not exactly come pre-packaged with the genes of a carefree attitude and flexible disposition. I will blame this on Allen like I do everything else that our children are personality "challenged" with.

William is one of those kids that perhaps has been around a time or two in this adventure we call life. He communicates far beyond his age with the gift of immediate connection and shares EVERY detail of his life without even a second thought. All with a sweet, caring and compassionate disposition. You couldn't really ask for a better first best friend for your child and although it started out as a set-up it take didn't long for their friendship to become one that is genuine.

At 4, a best friend is someone that when you go to their house you must complain about them for not sharing, about how they sprayed water on your face when you weren't looking or that they won't share your cheetoes. And just when your Mom thinks it is the most miserable time being had by all and you get in the car to leave it is stated "Mom...that was the BEST time I ever had!" .....this all a typical playdate with William.

A best friend is also someone that cheers you on trying to go number 2 on the potty and pats you on the back when you are having tantrum in the middle of the floor. A best friend is someone that you watch Star Wars with, eat too many donuts & suckers and play super heroes and when it is time to go home you aren't afraid to give a big bear hug and say "I love you."

How lucky have we been to have had William in our life.

Two weeks ago, William started "big boy" school and while we really thought hard about transitioning Cole to this school as well it just wasn't the right time for Cole to experience yet another major change in his life. For now...my son doesn't have his first best friend and he tells me almost daily that he misses his friend William.

Although this may sound silly to some in other parts of the country, in the Soup Bowl, it is not uncommon to go through every level of schooling and STILL be friends with your FIRST best friend...even when you have your OWN kids. We do that here...we latch on and never let go and if we go we only go for a short time and then pick up wherever we left off.

So perhaps William and Cole will move on or they may even remain best friends as the years go by I cannot predict. What I do know is that memories we have made will be kept dear in our hearts and one day perhaps they will meet again as college roomates...William bringing by every girl he meets to hang with the rest of the guys and Cole reminding him that he needs to be on time for his 8am psyc class.

Thank you William.

Our Life In the Soup Bowl

So here it is...my first blog recording the adventures and challenges of raising a family in the city of New Orleans...otherwise known as the "Soup Bowl." It is almost 4 years to the day that hurricane Katrina forever changed our lives, so it is only fitting that my first blog tells the tale of that day and time once again. For the past 4 years I have often cursed August 29, 2005 but not today - today will be a day of gratitude and thanks on what has become our "post-K" life here:
Thank you Katrina for allowing me the chance to spend the first four months of Cole's life with the daily help and care of my mother. Had you not come I would have been alone - a first-time mother without that extra help and care that what so needed.
Thank you Katrina for giving my sister and her family a beautiful, safe new place to live and although it is many miles away it is a safe haven for us when it is needed and longed for.
Thank you Katrina for changing my career and what I do on a daily basis. Had you not come I would have never stood in the ravages of the lower 9th ward, visited the campus of St. Augustine High School or the countless other New Orleans public schools in our city for voluntourism projects.
Thank you Katrina for every grateful re-opening celebration we got to attend. From something as grand and wonderful as the Superdome's coming out party to as simple as our favorite chinese food restaurant on Carrollton Avenue coming back to serve the BEST Mandarin Chicken in the South!
Thank you Katrina for making me a better wife, friend, daughter, colleague and most of all...a better Mother, because I no longer second guess a kiss, a hug, an apology or prayer when I go to sleep each night.
Thank you Katrina for reminding me why we fight to live and choose to raise our children in this city that has become a person not a place to us and for reminding me that I cannot turn my back on her when she has bad days, months or even years.
And speaking of time frames...they said that it would take 8 years to recover from Katrina's devastation. In less than half, we are stronger, kinder, wiser, better prepared for hardship and live life fuller because of the path we have traveled so today I am grateful....
The Mommy in the Soupbowl

Welcome Home

Kel ~

If you don't know, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. We've never gone to a birthday party together, had a lunch date or even been in the same city together for more than a few days; but, I know for certain that you will always be someone dear to me. I love so much your warm spirit and the remarkable impact you have on everything and everyone you touch.

I am SO excited to follow along on the adventures of you and Allen as Cole and Carly grow and you find the perfect home for all of you. Welcome to your home on the web.

All My Love, K