.: Lent and Soul Savin' :.

So's while I'm a-church shoppin' and hanging out with Catholics in New Orleans, I mean to celebrate Lent. At least the givin up stuff part. So's after leaving NO, I'd thought I'd give up drinking beer. That didn't last nor did I take it seriously. Thinking of another horrible habit to give up, I thought soda or pop, whatever you call it. My sister gave it up for Lent a few years ago. Now she hates drinking it. I meant to ash on Wednesday but was recovering most of that day. I'm a horrid Catholic. I should just give up.

However, its not like folks are giving up on me. You should have the seen the HUGE crosses on Bourbon St. in the thick of the sinning. God Bless 'em. That's balls to try to convert folks on the street like that. I witnessed these young white folks with their hands upon an older black gentleman imploring him to pray for his sins. First I overhear. "I can'y.. I can't... I can't...". Eventually there was a chant of prayer. I didn't see if the gentleman prayed too.

Tonight there was some dude who I thought was a bit looney and talking to himself. After sitting down, I'd realized he's speaking to everyone. He's preaching to the sinners on the CTA. He spoke of the only book, the Bible, to solemn-faced riders. With a voice that reminded me of the sultry tones of an evangelical TV preacher, he told us to sit with Jesus and God. For some reason we had the opportunity to switch to another bus. Everyone rushed for the doors.

God. Seriously.