Vampires at the End of Life.
What are we going to talk about today? I am going to start at Russell’s Marina Grill, where Mrs. King and I had breakfast today, and then I will reminisce about my trip to the Vampire Café yesterday, then, the Chart Room, then, the Rib Room. Yesterday was a story of many different rooms. It was a very interesting day, like Alice in Wonderland.
Before I begin, I overheard a piece of advice yesterday, when I was out and about, that I think will be apt to share here. Never get caught with your pants down.
In the past three days I have had five conversations about cancer, all of varying degrees of severity and plausibility. Only one of these conversations was because I was talking to a dermatologist. I am most suspicious of the Nick Lobo story. I do not know enough specifics for me to believe it. I would rather hear it straight from Lobo’s mouth, not secondhand from weepy Alice, who has been known to overdramatize things. Alice looks kind of like Imogene Coca. You know the type.
I do not have skin cancer. I was talking to my favorite dermatologist in a social situation when we both felt a mutual need for consultation. We conferred on a case. We agreed that the guy everyone calls Peacenik has weeping eczema. He thought he had the cancer.
Melissa just reminded me that it was comedy open mike night at this Other Bar last night. One of these nights, I am going to go. I am going to witness, not perform. I would like to make that clear.
I meet the most interesting people as I make my rounds about the demimonde that is afternoon New Orleans. Why would I want to go out at night? That would be like wanting to stand in line. How crowded can an open mike comedy show be?
The secret to happiness is low expectations.
Afternoon New Orleans flows along at its own pace. It has its own rituals and routines. It is often as predictable as the Mississippi River is predictable, Big Muddy. It is as predictable as hurricane season.
It is as predictable as Big Al’s Original Bloody Mary.
Let me tell you about the Vampire Café. First, I have to pull the curtain.