Dear America,
>> >
>> > I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South
>>Louisiana.
>> >
>> > We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we
>>apologize
>>for
>> > that, but we never were much for waiting around for
>>invitations.
>>We're
>> > not much on formalities like that.
>> >
>> > And we might be staying around your town for a while,
>>enrolling in
>> > your schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a
>>few
>> > things about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither
>>did we,
>> > so we're just going to have to make the best of it.
>> >
>> > First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your
>>food,
>> > your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of
>>your
>> > National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else
>>who
>>has
>> > come to our rescue.
>> >
>> > We're a fiercely proud and independent people, and we don't
>>cotton
>> > much to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept
>>help
>> > when we need it. And right now, we need it.
>> >
>> > Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around
>>to
>> > fishing again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work
>>best in
>> > your waters.
>> >
>> > We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way.
>> >
>> > You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to
>>strange
>> > music and eat things you'd probably hire an exterminator to
>>get out
>>of
>> > your yard.
>> >
>> > We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We
>>talk too
>> > much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we're
>> > suspicious of others who don't.
>> >
>> > But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town.
>> >
>> > Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South
>>Louisiana
>> > with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we
>>bury
>> > our dead in LSU sweatshirts.
>> >
>> > Often we don't make sense. You may wonder why, for instance -
>>if we
>> > could only carry one small bag of belongings with us on our
>>journey
>>to
>> > your state - why in God's name did we bring a pair of shrimp
>>boots?
>> >
>> > We can't really explain that. It is what it is.
>> >
>> > You've probably heard that many of us stayed behind. As bad as
>>it
>>is,
>> > many of us cannot fathom a life outside of our border, out in
>>that
>> > place we call Elsewhere.
>> >
>> > The only way you could understand that is if you have been
>>there,
>>and
>> > so many of you have. So you realize that when you strip away
>>all the
>> > craziness and bars and parades and music and architecture and
>>all
>>that
>> > hooey, really, the best thing about where we come from is us.
>> >
>> > We are what made this place a national treasure. We're good
>>people.
>> > And don't be afraid to ask us how to pronounce our names. It
>>happens
>> > all the time.
>> > (YEAH IT'S SCHOUEST..pronounced SHH-WEST for the record...OK BACK TO THE STORY).
>> > When you meet us now and you look into our eyes, you will see
>>the
>> > saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand
>>pieces.
>> >
>> > But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After
>>all,
>> > we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to
>>count
>> > for something.
>> >
>> > OK, maybe something else you should know is that we make jokes
>>at
>> > inappropriate times.
>> >
>> > But what the hell.
>> >
>> > And one more thing: In our part of the country, we're used to
>>having
>> > visitors. It's our way of life.
>> >
>> > So when all this is over and we move back home, we will repay
>>to you
>> > the hospitality and generosity of spirit you offer to us in
>>this
>> > season of our despair.
>> >
>> > That is our promise. That is our faith.
>> >
>> > I suppose we should introduce ourselves: We're South
>>Louisiana.
>> >
>> > We have arrived on your doorstep on short notice and we
>>apologize
>>for
>> > that, but we never were much for waiting around for
>>invitations.
>>We're
>> > not much on formalities like that.
>> >
>> > And we might be staying around your town for a while,
>>enrolling in
>> > your schools and looking for jobs, so we wanted to tell you a
>>few
>> > things about us. We know you didn't ask for this and neither
>>did we,
>> > so we're just going to have to make the best of it.
>> >
>> > First of all, we thank you. For your money, your water, your
>>food,
>> > your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of
>>your
>> > National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else
>>who
>>has
>> > come to our rescue.
>> >
>> > We're a fiercely proud and independent people, and we don't
>>cotton
>> > much to outside interference, but we're not ashamed to accept
>>help
>> > when we need it. And right now, we need it.
>> >
>> > Just don't get carried away. For instance, once we get around
>>to
>> > fishing again, don't try to tell us what kind of lures work
>>best in
>> > your waters.
>> >
>> > We're not going to listen. We're stubborn that way.
>> >
>> > You probably already know that we talk funny and listen to
>>strange
>> > music and eat things you'd probably hire an exterminator to
>>get out
>>of
>> > your yard.
>> >
>> > We dance even if there's no radio. We drink at funerals. We
>>talk too
>> > much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we're
>> > suspicious of others who don't.
>> >
>> > But we'll try not to judge you while we're in your town.
>> >
>> > Everybody loves their home, we know that. But we love South
>>Louisiana
>> > with a ferocity that borders on the pathological. Sometimes we
>>bury
>> > our dead in LSU sweatshirts.
>> >
>> > Often we don't make sense. You may wonder why, for instance -
>>if we
>> > could only carry one small bag of belongings with us on our
>>journey
>>to
>> > your state - why in God's name did we bring a pair of shrimp
>>boots?
>> >
>> > We can't really explain that. It is what it is.
>> >
>> > You've probably heard that many of us stayed behind. As bad as
>>it
>>is,
>> > many of us cannot fathom a life outside of our border, out in
>>that
>> > place we call Elsewhere.
>> >
>> > The only way you could understand that is if you have been
>>there,
>>and
>> > so many of you have. So you realize that when you strip away
>>all the
>> > craziness and bars and parades and music and architecture and
>>all
>>that
>> > hooey, really, the best thing about where we come from is us.
>> >
>> > We are what made this place a national treasure. We're good
>>people.
>> > And don't be afraid to ask us how to pronounce our names. It
>>happens
>> > all the time.
>> > (YEAH IT'S SCHOUEST..pronounced SHH-WEST for the record...OK BACK TO THE STORY).
>> > When you meet us now and you look into our eyes, you will see
>>the
>> > saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken into a thousand
>>pieces.
>> >
>> > But don't pity us. We're gonna make it. We're resilient. After
>>all,
>> > we've been rooting for the Saints for 35 years. That's got to
>>count
>> > for something.
>> >
>> > OK, maybe something else you should know is that we make jokes
>>at
>> > inappropriate times.
>> >
>> > But what the hell.
>> >
>> > And one more thing: In our part of the country, we're used to
>>having
>> > visitors. It's our way of life.
>> >
>> > So when all this is over and we move back home, we will repay
>>to you
>> > the hospitality and generosity of spirit you offer to us in
>>this
>> > season of our despair.
>> >
>> > That is our promise. That is our faith.
