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Tag: Violence

Paul’s Plea

I haven’t talked to Paul since he left New Orleans. I saw him only briefly in the lobby of the hotel by the airport, the night after Helen was killed. For the first time in my life I was literally at a loss for words. I just couldn’t think of a thing to say. So, really, I haven’t talked to Paul since New Year’s Eve, when he and Helen and Francis stopped by our house for a visit.

I need to write Paul a letter. I still hardly know what to say, but I will have to find the words.

Don’t Rob Mid-City

I wanted to write something cheerful for the end of the year. I certainly didn’t want to cite another story from the newspaper about killing in my neighborhood. But I can’t help it. The details surrounding this incident are just too compelling.

A little background: La Finca is a restaurant/bar that used to be on Tulane Avenue near Carrollton. Katrina forced a move to Jeff Davis & Baudin, where the Delta Blues Grill used to be. Xy and I stopped in for dinner a couple weeks ago. It’s a working class Mexican joint, serving a style of food which is distinctly different from Taco Bell or Juan’s Flying Burrito. For example, the tacos have only beef and onion, plus cilantro — no cheese, no beans, no sour cream. We were the only non-Latins there, and Fox Sports Español was playing on the television. The food was all right, but the music was blaring at an almost painful level.

It seems that in the wee hours of yesterday morning, two guys tried to rob the place. They came in with guns and held some patrons hostage. A security guard on duty shot one of the guys. The other guy got away, but the guy who was shot died.

I’m not happy that anyone was killed, but my sympathies are with La Finca on this one.