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    when my plane landed in new orleans last night at 11:30, i had been wrapped up in conversation with the passenger sitting next to me: a disgruntled cattle farmer from maryland who recently sold all his cattle in protest of a new maryland law requiring livestock farmers with 8 or more animals to pay more fees and have a elaborate farm plan submitted to uncle sam detailing every aspect of the farm operation. his frustration was understandable, but not the irrational blame he kept placing on illegal immigrants in the united states. everything he talked about somehow lead back to how illegal immigrants are to blame. interesting man, but he wore me out.

so anyway, when we landed he pointed at the condensation coating the outside of the little oval airplane windows and asked, “so it’s pretty humid here, huh?”
“oh, you just don’t know, mister. you just don’t know.”
 

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    i am back in the south. i wanted to let you all know that i am safe and sound and so grateful for your hospitality and accommodations while i took a month-long vacation this may. the vacation was for my physical & mental health and it worked. i have all you to thank.

when i stepped into my house in new orleans and put my backpack down, the feeling of ‘home’ crept up into my body and filled me up. i hugged my roommates and two best friends in the living room. i looked at the 7 month-old baby sleeping in their room and i paused to take in his presence. he’s so tall now, but still so fat. i laid in my bed and read a letter i had received from an old friend. i sat on the porch while my roommates smoked cigarettes and i took in the neighborhood again.

i’m just writing to let y’all know i miss you and love you. i’ll be seeing some of you again soon. but thanks. it was a great trip.
heart.