Over Halloween I
went to New Orleans. My desire to visit to this city stemmed from my wanting to go
to Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat Ball, which usually takes place on Halloween,
but this year did not. Instead I got to New Orleans a few days after the ball
and decided to find different ways to get the Anne Rice experience, so I
messaged her assistant Beckett on Facebook. After noticing how often he posted
about Anne on her own Facebook page I checked his page out and thought he was nice,
smart, and kind of cute. Beckett is also a writer and a previous monk. The
first time I messaged him I did not expect a response but he responded to me the
same day. I asked him about how he became Anne’s assistant and about his new
collaborative book with her. He told me that they met when she went into his
monastery. They became friends. Then he asked her for a job and she said yes.
That’s how easy
it is to get a job with your favorite book author who you think is an
untouchable statue at the Uffizzi Gallery.
So this is what
I said when I got there.
ME:
Hi
Becket! I'm in Anne Rice Country (New Orleans) for the first time. I've always
wanted to visit and have finally made it. Do you recommend any places? Ever
since reading Interview with the Vampire I have been fascinated with the area
and wanted to know, based off that, what you'd recommend. I wish I could have
made the Vampire Lestat Ball and hope it was fun. Obviously it would be amazing
if you would like to grab coffee or something but if you're busy, I'd
understand. I will be here for Halloween and until Saturday. Anyway, I hope all
is well!
10/29, 7:32pm
Becket
Hi Bianca! For eating I recommend a ACME Oyster House. For
sightseeing a drive up St. Charles Ave in the Garden District to see the houses
and/or visit St. Louis Cemetery #1. Also have beignets at Cafe DuMonde
Getting
coffee with you would be wonderful; but Anne and I have gone on to the next
city: we're in Dallas today, about to go to Anne's book signing.
Hopefully
next time!
I
was also trying to get Becket to go on a date with me but it didn’t work out. I
didn’t even know if he liked women. So I continued on my journey. My two
friends that were with me, one of whom is also a big Anne Rice fan, were
shocked that he responded so quickly. I was excited that we got our itinerary
from this guy. He wouldn’t steer us wrong.
During
our first day in NOLA I tried to avoid tarot readers at any cost in an attempt
to save money and enjoy the moment. There were many, smiling at me and luring
me in while we walked past Pirates Alley, but I turned my head and continued on.
The
city was so beautiful, just like my imagination had anticipated, and one of the
first things I noticed was Elysian Fields, an Avenue in NOLA that was written
into Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.
I
took a picture and tried to send it to my 11th grade English teacher
who first introduced me to this play, which later turned into an obsession with
Blanche. While reading it in the 11th grade he had the class do
scenes from the play and I read the monologue, “I took the blows in my face and
my body.”
We
had a love/hate relationship since the time he told the class to write an essay
about how Reisa and I were distractions
and he put an orange peel on the board saying “This is Bianca’s brain fried
under the sun.” But we stayed friends after that. I forgave him and he forgave
me for drinking beer during class.
After
getting home from NOLA I found my teachers email and sent him a picture of
Elysian Fields. He said that I made his day and that he once lived there as a
hobo on the street corner until someone gave him a place to live.
Earlierthat day the fun happened, my friends and I went to the Voodoo Museum. I
avoided getting to close to anything and was confused about the photos of Jesus
and status of Mary sitting next to pictures of these famous Voodoo people. I’m
a catholic and you only pray to Jesus. My friend gave an offering to manifest a
wish but I did not because I didn’t want to go against my religion, that day.
After
exiting the man at the front desk who was old, grey and spooky asked if I
wanted my friend to take a picture of me in front of a big painting of Mary
Laveau, a famous Voodoo Queen. I kind of did. How did he know? I asked if this
man was a psychic and he said that he was and he “read every person that walked
in the place.”
“I
knew it,” I said.
He
then told me to come the next day for a blessing ritual where I would have to
wear a python around my body. I said I was scared of snakes. He looked at me
straight in the eye. Almost looking into my soul he said, “Woman up.”
“Woman
up?” I asked.
“Yes.
Woman up.” His serious expression did not change. It was a do or die.
Then
I asked if it would bite me.
“Well
are you a good girl or a bad girl?” he asked.
You’re
the psychic. You tell me, I thought. “Sometimes I’m good and sometimes I’m not
like everyone else,” I said.
He
loosened up. “I think you’ll be fine.”
I
was a little bit of a scaredy cat, so I decided, yeah, maybe I should wear the
snake.
We
talked some more and I wanted to come back the next day for the blessing. This
man was my new best friend and favorite person in NOLA. He was a famous Voodoo
Priest that had been on The Discovery Channel, I think.
The
next day I went to Anne Rice’s house in the Garden District after taking the
Street Car up. More of my dreams were coming true. I wanted to sneak inside but
there were cameras.
When
it was time to go back to the Voodoo Priest we were late. The ritual had begun
and finished and I hadn’t made it, along with two other British girls who were
very upset.
To
be honest, I was glad I didn’t have to wear the python. A woman came out in
tears thanking the priest for what he had done for her. It was touching.
After
going inside I saw one of his lady friends wearing the python. I was petrified
but hid it. The priest then gave me a free candle. It was red with his picture
on it. He said, “This is for organization and creativity. Light it during dusk
with an intention and don’t blow it out or you will blow away the wish. Snuff
it out.”
How
did he know I was a creative person that was not organized? “Amazing. I need
this,” I said.
He
gave my friend’s boyfriend a candle for figuring out what to do in life and I
will admit the kid is having some problems with that. Then, he gave one of the
other girls a candle for protection and getting rid of hexes. I felt bad for
her.
That
night I worse a scarecrow outfit that one best costume at the bar. I won a 100
dollar bar tab but didn’t want to drink anymore so bought everyone at the bar a
shot, but before, I wanted to give a speech. I spoke about hurricane Sandy and
overcoming obstacles. I caught myself in the middle because they had Katrina and I
felt very badly about this.
But
anyway, everyone clapped and the woman said she wanted to cry and people
thought I had written it beforehand but it all came to me naturally because I had always wanted to be a public speaker. So there it was, winning the costume
contest led me to my first public speech, one of my biggest dreams. It was one of the best days of my life, Halloween
of 2013 in New Orleans. I made many new friends. It was inspiring. The next day
I was too tired to function.
The
next day it was time to go but I was sad. My life was better in New Orleans
after only three days. Why was I leaving?
After
getting home I lit my candle and wrote. I don’t know if it helped me with my
creativity or organization, but the intention cannot hurt.
LINK TO VIDEO OF PUBLIC SPEECH BELOW
CHECK LINKS BELOW FOR STEP BY STEP PHOTO DOCUMENTATION OF EVENTS, INCLUDING MYSTERIOUS CREATURE FOLLOWING ME IN ST. LOUIS CEMETERY AND PICTURE OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD IN VOODOO MUSEUM.
