Forever NOLA

The phone rang. It was my district manager. She told me about a lady named Caverly Dwyer who had a bad experience at my new store. She gave me her phone number and told me to give her a gift card of twenty-five dollars. I told her that I would and hung up the phone. I called Caverly to apologize for her bad experience. As a person I wanted to know that she was heard. I called her, and we talked on the phone for about ten minutes. I apologized for her experience. I explained to her that I was a new manager at Harrison & Memphis, and I told her what an honor it was to manage a store in New Orleans. She said that she wanted to meet me. She came in the store, and we talked about everything. We talked about Hurricane Katrina, the aftermath and the continuation of rebuilding of New Orleans. We talked about New Orleans as she was an old lover that we cannot shake. But for the first time in two years I felt connected to that lover, New Orleans.

Since I've come home two years ago, I still feel distant from New Orleans. Kenner is fifteen minutes without traffic from New Orleans, but it seems worlds apart. I've only been at the store for two days, but it feels so right. I used to work at CC's on Esplanade back in the day. It was the perfect coffee shop. It was a pillar to the community. It was the meeting place for everyone. The mayor and his wife used to come in. Many journalists would come in. Politicians and lawyers all were discussing business (aka backhand dealings). Artists and musicians were abound in this store. Everyone knew each other. Students studied and graduated in their perspective careers. Couples grew into families. I was a part of all of that. I've been wanting that back subconsciously. I got it and now it's up to me to do my part. This Starbucks can definitely be the 'third place' for this community. Lakeview is fighting for their community. I just want to be with them 'in that number.' Just like the Saints we will marching in together.

I am a New Orleanian. I was born in Charity Hospital. I raised in Algiers. I went to school Uptown. I matured in Mid-City. It's time to continue to grow in Lakeview. Understand one thing it is 'Forever NOLA.'