I love the Bywater

This past Sunday the Lousiana Baptist Convention along with a couple of other organizations and churches sponsored a block party in the park next to our church.  It turned out really well, and I got to meet some of the people with whom I now share a neighborhood.  As a part of the block party, Jake Smith performed on a stage in one corner of the park.  (on a side note, I’ve never heard of Jake Smith before this weekend, but I am definitely a new fan of his.  You should check him out.)  So anyway, Jake is up there on stage doing his thing, and my friend Jenny (not to be confused with Jennie of itsjustjennie.com fame) and I are sitting in the grass enjoying the music.  When lo and behold, from the crowd there emerges this middle-aged, tall and lanky gentleman who, judging by the way he carried himself, had definitely had “a few.”  He saunters right on up the the stage, grooving a little with the music as he went, reaches into his pocket and throws some change at Jake’s feet.  He then turns around to the crowd and gives a few approving nods and claps as though we should do the same, and then meanders back to his place in the grass.  Now, to appreciate this you have to understand the culture here and the livelihood of many New Orleans musicians.  Street musicians rely on that sort of “donation” as their income.  Jake Smith, however, was most likely not expecting such a display, and I must say, he did a very good job of holding it together and not bursting into laughter at the uniqueness and awkwardness of the moment.  After the gentleman had made it back to his seat, Jenny, laughing to herself a little, said it best… “I love the Bywater…they take care of their musicians here.”  It’s true.