Who Dat?!

Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?! Who Dat?!

I'm in New Orleans for the weekend to celebrate Michael's college graduation! His parents got us all tickets to the Saints vs. Giants game and a weekend in the Crescent City. It's been a beautiful weekend, with crisp, sunny skies and cool, brisk breezes. We enjoyed beingets and steaming cafe au laits at world famous Cafe Du Monde on the river this morning, toured the historic downtown French Quarter with a browse through the charming French Market, made a quick pass through Bourbon Street, explored the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, ate authentic New-Orleans-style shrimp po-boys on the River Walk, and stocked up on Saints paraphernalia at the Black and Gold Sports Store. I've often heard that New Orleans was dirty, loud, and unfriendly, but I have experienced just the opposite. It has been so pleasant here. Clean, although crowded, and quaint even, with it's black wrought iron balconies and horse-drawn carriages. Very Southern, very historic...I have just loved it! And, of course, I must not forget to mention the highlight of the weekend: The Saints Game tomorrow! This will be my first professional football game, my first Saints game, and I could not be more excited. I've really come to love the Saints since I have been dating Michael. His unfailing devotion and support and love of them has impressed and influenced me incredibly. They have been his favorite team for his entire life, from his first Saints game at 4 years old, throughout years of disappointing losses and heart-stopping wins, to their unlikely comeback after Katrina to now, starting the season 4-0...the first time since 1993. I believe it says something about the character of a man who can be devoted to something, a team, a franchise that has repeatedly and frequently let him down, and yet can still hope and believe that their potential and talent that will pull through in the end. Last year at about this time he gave me a book to read titled Patron Saints, and that book also had a huge impact on my perception about the Saints. He quickly realized that the easiest way to my heart was through a book! Patron Saints is about the rise and fall and rise again of the Saints franchise, and how the team gave the city of New Orleans hope after Katrina. Since then, we've referred to time after time that the Saints have given us hope in our own lives. I know it sounds crazy and is difficult to explain, but it's the truth. It's a very big part of our lives.

"Oh when the Saints go marching in, oh when the Saints go marching in, Lord I want to be in that number, when the Saints go marching in."