the shaping place

New Orleans, as a city, funnels you. People here act a way that they wouldnt somewhere else. Each bent and gridded street shoots us around in a predetermined pinball machine. New Orleans is why M.'s romantic interest starts flirting and kissing other girls when she leaves town, why W.'s hook-up doesnt call; it is the overwhelming rule of the realm. We take the avenues allowed to us, start and stop on Rampart, Deacator, Camp, and Claiborne to find ourselves under shady trees or in a small store-- getting lost in the museum of New Orleans where each public statue, drunk pisser, and well-walked pooch is an homage to the idea of New Orleans. Its such a simple list to agree on, memorize, and recreate. We all perform New Orleans in New Orleans becuase New Orleans demands it.