Most sincere apologies, please bear with me....This is my most diverse pick on my top 10 list, played over 70,000,000 times on youtube. Playing for Change, a world effort. The days post Katrina was a time and memory forever etched in my heart. I was among a group of some of the first people let back in. My ex wife was involved in pumping out the water and fixing the levees. National Guard patrols were everywhere. Windows crashed by looters all over Canal Street. Then there was the ninth ward. The unforgetable ninth ward. A ghost town, such devastation Id never seen, ever. A small few Ninth residents tried returning to their homes with a belief that public services would return. It didnt. Several trips later it was early spring and the city had managed to clean up the dome, and some debris were gone but it was still a town post disaster and the Ninth wards multi story public housing units had all been torn down. Entering the city hundreds of blue tarps covered damaged roofs. Fats Domino had even been forced into his Ninth ward attic during the storm, where he was trapped for 2 weeks in his attic before being resqued, but by now the people had restored his home and adjoing studio. Many parts of the city had trailers everywhere for temporary housing. 25% of NOLAs population have still never returned. East of NOLA Bay St Louie and Gulfport, a ferry had replaced the bay bridge where army tents for victims to live in (for almost 3 years)... it was during this time I had fallen in love with the people of NOLA, whose fortitude and never quit attitude I had never witnessed. I had planned on fulfilling a life long dream (arent dreams funny????) Of playing out of my case in the quarter, so one sunny lunchtime day I went there. It seemed worlds away from months before, even as cleanup still went on in the lower Ninth, the Quarter was a good and brief rest from the stress of reality. I walked upon a player, powered by a battery powered amp and mic. He was a great guy, very friendly, and he after a few minutes asked me if I wanted to play. Wow what a thrill it was!!! His name is Grandpa Elliot and our time was priceless together. A few months later we did it again. I must have visited with him a dozen times. So watch this very special video. The second performer with the sideways hat, and beard is Grandpa Elliot. To me, he embodies the true spirit of New Orleans, and its people who will never quit and have endured so much for the spirit and love of that city. Please continue to pray for New Orleans.This song is a great message this season to us all around the world to stop turning our backs on one another, and lets all get a grip and help each other out. As some good folks I know often say: I cant, He can, and I think Ill let him. God put us all here for a purpose and it was nothing about terror, murderers, or terrorists. Christmas is much bigger than just Christmas, its a time where we reflect on the past and hope for the future. If it can be accomplished in song, surely the worlds problems can be solved in like manner. Reconciliation is not a bad word. This is for Grandpa Elliot. Thank you for an awesome experience.. as for the rest of us its time for wholesale change.... so Cmon world.....Stand by me...:)...
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 20:12:23 +0000
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