Girls Trip to New Orleans: This Time It Was Spiritual

Hot on Bourbon St.

New Orleans is by far one of my favorite cities. Its richness in culture, cuisine, and the Arts is unmatched. No other city in the world like it. So, when the talks started that there was going to be a trip with a group of people I thoroughly enjoy being around, I was all in! Things happen, plans changed, and the trip to NOLA dwindled down to four of us. Flights and hotel were booked and we took off on a summer adventure!

New Orleans in the summer ain’t for the weak baby. Hot is an understatement. But the city never misses a beat no matter the weather. Let me just say a little bit about the extraordinary ladies I traveled with:

KENN

• all charisma 
• the life of the party 
• a great Mom 
• loyal
• supportive
• a consummate cheerleader
• numbers are a language she speaks fluently
• lowkey mixologist
• dancing queen 
• down for the get down

Kenn inspires me to see my gifts in ways that I often do not.

KIA

• reminds me of safety
• a calm spirit 
• a sacred vessel of light
• warm 
• welcoming
• her hugs bring peace
• a great Mom
• as sweet as the treats she uses her culinary gifts to make
• a nurturer
• the anchor within a support system

Kia inspires me to stand strong in peace.

TIFF

• my closie
• a confidant
• a deep thinker
• an analyzer
• a problem solver
• a dream chaser
• Chef-Girl-R-Tiff
• solo dolo
• a great Mom
• a compassionate wife

Tiff inspires me to unmute in spite of introversion. 

Needless to say, I was surrounded by so much love from these 3 women in the best city in the world. It was amazing.

We did all the usual things NOLA tourists do. We drank, ate, partied on Bourbon, the usual. However, this time the trip was so much different than the typical shenanigans I got into in my early 30s. This time the city gifted me with a newfound life momentum to carry with me home. 

I arrived to the city a day before the ladies. When Tiff arrived the morning after I was on a phone interview. She too loves the city so much so she used that time to get reacclimated to the French Quarter streets. There’s so much mystery down a cobble stoned French Quarter street. She came across a Black owned sanctuary shop called Selah. Selah is full of handcrafted aromatic herbs and resins as well as all of the crystals and guides one might need to support their spiritual journey. When I finally linked up with Tiff she was raving about Selah and how she was drawn in because she could smell its power from the street. She also talked about her experience with the woman who owned the shop. The woman has medium gifts and spoke to Tiff about her life through divine downloads of energy and visions. 

This trip would become a spiritual journey for all of us really quickly.

Kenn and Kia arrived later that night and we had fun on Bourbon. 

The next day after a bomb breakfast and drinks overflowing at The Ruby Slipper Café, Tiff took us to Selah to experience what she had on the day before. By the time we walked through 96 degree weather to get there I was exhausted and mentally checked out. Kenn had brought us each personal fans, so I sat down on an antique mahogany bench that was placed strategically under a palm plant next to a small floor alter with a lit white candle, incense, sage and other relics. I watched as my friends looked around the shop. Tiff occasionally brought handmade sage blends over for me to smell. Kenn was in deep connection and conversation with the shop owner which warmed my heart. I closed my eyes briefly to see if I was as hot inside as I was outside. Don’t judge me it’s a thing I do. Once the ladies finished their purchases they came over in the section I was in probably gearing up to motivate me to get up off that bench as they had to do throughout the entire trip. Tiff sat next to me and introduced me to the shop owner as her fellow introvert Gemini friend. 

I’d say in this moment is where I felt a shift. A cool breeze beyond the hand held fan Kenn gave me began flowing through the area I was sitting in. The woman herself began sweating as she started speaking visions she saw about me and my life. 

Get back in nature.

You are a presence.

You step back and allow others to shine but you take up space.

You don't judge.

You let others be.

Heal your blood so you can heal us. 

I see you in white, barefoot, with a tall stick in your hand, and people are surrounding you for healing.

Don’t let everyone into your sacred space. 

Light a white candle for your Dad everyday.

I see greatness in you.

Tiff began balling, Kenn followed and Kia went and grabbed the tissues. I teared up not really knowing how to process this information. Honestly, it was a bit frightening. I realize Tiff’s tears came from the place where she has seen these very things in me. Kenn too. Admittedly, it's not something I saw in myself or even think about necessarily. However, I’m adamant that I must live my life in empathy and love especially the older I get. I’ve experienced so many women, women way older than me even, who are the opposite and I made a promise to myself that I would do the work to never become that type of woman. Kia grabbed the white candles for me with the quickness and said she would light one too with me. The shop owner encouraged us to visit The Tree of Life before leaving New Orleans. She pointed to me saying, “especially you. Sit under it. Get reconnected with nature.” The shop owner hugged me tight for awhile before we left. We left the shop with our hearts full. Kenn even said she didn’t feel the liquor buzz from breakfast anymore. 

We did a little shopping at the French Market, got snowballs, toasted to life over Casamigos shots, Kia and Kenn had Tarot card readings and we all went to see The Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life experience is a NOLA gem. It reminded Kenn of the tree from Eve’s Bayou. It’s nestled at the center of Audubon Park. It’s limbs tower over the grassy land and bow to the sun. Adorned with Louisiana Spanish Moss its 400 year old presence aesthetically takes up space. Without it the park would be a bare lifeless place. It protected us from the heat, providing a cool, relaxing place to rest. This tree was a visual representation of what the shop owner saw in me. I felt grounded under her limbs. Comforted leaning on her trunk. I didn’t want to leave. I knew the shop owner had shared foreseen truths with me. I needed to figure out how to align myself with the understanding of who I am with who I’m meant to be. I implore you if you've gotten this far on my blog post to visit Selah and The Tree of Life. Both unforgettable places.

A photo I took of Kia under The Tree of Life

Another cherished moment on our trip for me was the time we spent with Kenn’s family as they celebrated her cousin’s graduation from college. I was excited to see a different part of New Orleans beyond downtown. We joined Kenn’s family on the West Bank.  It was a Black family backyard cookout which is always a vibe. A vibe I definitely miss. We sat down at the table with Kenn’s uncle and ‘nem. Talked, laughed, ate Swai fried with love and drizzled with Crystals Hot Sauce fresh out the grease till way past sunset. Uncle called me, Kia, Kenn and Tiff “DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Philly” based on where we lived and are from. He told the best Uncle stories and made sure we were taken care of.

We had planned after the cookout to go see Kelly Price at Club 7140. We told Uncle about our plan and well, that opened up a can of worms. “7140? On the eaaaaast?” He told us how dangerous it was on that side of town, not to stop and get gas, and to be careful. He occasionally would call other people over to the table and ask them had they been to 7140 and they’d all holler, “on the eaaaast?” They all expressed the same sentiments and precautionary tales as Uncle. It didn’t matter though because we spent so much time soaking up the laughter, southern hospitality, and kindred spirit that we missed the window to get back to the hotel to change for the concert. The moment you realize that your friendship has merged itself with the love of family that is a feeling I never want to lose.

We ended our trip talking, laughing, and standing firmly in our bond as framily. 

Out of all the times I’ve been to New Orleans this trip by far is the one I will cherish the most.

Under The Sunset Series: Azarri (& the B. Crew)

Painting by: Amani Lewis

Friday’s summer nights stand alone thought Azarri as she looked in the mirror. 

She never planned out her outfits but always got dressed like she was under assignment. There were a few potential late night propositions in her texts. Ignoring the text messages gave her Leo ego the full body stroke it needed.

Her style was a vibe though. 

Eclectically symmetric. 

It was a slightly see-through bandeau top, with paper bag waist tribal print gaucho pants, paired with custom graffiti Vans kind of evening. She adorned her neck with Ankara balls and chains. She threw her blonde locs up into a messy ponytail, grabbed her jacket, skateboard and keys. She looked at herself in the mirror by the front door for a final check in, and headed out the door rubbing her dark purple matte lips together.

Before she hit the corner...

“Amber Alert! Amber Alert!” Drunk Eddie yelled when he saw her. Every time he saw her. 

“Each day through my window,” he sang, “I watch her as she passes byyyy." 

Azarri smirked and rolled her eyes simultaneously.

“Won’t you bring Eddie a little somethin' somethin' when you come back out beautiful Zarri?” Drunk Eddie asked. 

"I'll see what I can do," Azarri replied. They both knew she'd bring him a 5th of Jameson out like she did every Friday.

The corner store was packed with its usual hood rich suspects. Mr. Farmer stood at the counter meticulously filling out his lottery ticket like he was filing important paperwork. 

"Azzari Renaye Brinkley!" Mr. Farmer was the only one around the way to call her by her full name. She let him cook because he was old, harmless, and used to "tickle her grandmother's feathers."

"Give me two numbers, any numbers" he said.

 “94 and 7” Azarri said without hesitancy. She had the number 94 tattooed on the back of her left shoulder and she had 7 piercings. These numbers were more than just numbers to her.

"Good numbers, good numbers" he smiled his denture-less smile and eagerly wrote them down.

Azarri went to the cooler and grabbed a water.  When she came back to the counter, Saalim had already pulled her White Grape Swishers and a 5th of Jameson from behind the counter. 

"Let me get a lighter too."

"What color?"

"Purple."

She looked through the big tub of Now & Laters and pulled out 2 banana flavored packs.

"$24.50, I give you lighter free."

"Thanks Saalim, see you next week." 

"Bye Mr. Farmer."

"Bye Baby."

“Amber Aler-" Drunk Eddie couldn’t get it out before Azarri handed him the Jameson bottle. He popped it open, leaned back against the bricks and took a long gulp. Azarri kept walking down the street.

She loved Brooklyn on Fridays in the summer. Even though the city was changing, she was grateful that some of the same people still lived on her block from when she moved in with her grandmother in '94.

She got a text, it read:
We under the bridge.

She popped a Now & Later in her mouth, hopped on her skateboard and took off. Skating was her thing. In high school she started an all girls skate crew, Bitches Ridin' Concrete Waves, or B. Crew for short. The group held on strong until senior year when it kind of disintegrated, like most things do senior year in high school. Azarri still had her skateboard garnished with B. Crew stickers. She even had her grandmother sew B. Crew patches on her jacket in high school which she still wore till this day. The rest of her crew, Blake, Tanisha, Chrome, and Mandy had real grown-up lives and skateboarding wasn’t a part of it. They still got together every other Friday under the Kosciuszko Bridge to watch the sunset. 

“Be an angel and say your prayers at sunset so God can bless your demon time at dusk.” Blake always said.

She slid up to the spot just as Mandy was climbing up on the hood of Blake’s Dodge Cutlass and started yelling, “Happy Friday Earthlings! We androids hate it here!”

“Speak for yourself, Mandy!” Azarri said as she approached her friends. 

"I know you better get down off my car!" Blake commanded.

"Ain't nobody gonna hurt this old ass spaceship!" Mandy rebutted.

They all surrounded Azarri and gave her their B. Crew hug and secret handshake. 

“The only reason you think you're an android is because you moved all the way to Long Island.” Azarri teased.

“Touché my nigga, touché. But at least I ain’t out here smelling like a Hotep Banana Split!" Mandy always came with a comeback.

They all laughed.

"It’s the Now & Laters."

"Oh we know, and whatever oil you bought from the oil man on the R train." Chrome chimed in. 

"You an android because who the hell eats banana Now & Laters? Gimmie one!" Mandy added.

"You got the Swishers?" Blake changes the subject on a mission.

"Yep!" Azarri hands them to Blake. 

"White Grape! That’s my dawg."

Blake takes the Swishers and gets in her car.

Azarri leans on the car with Tanisha and Chrome while Mandy attempts to ride Azarri's skateboard laying on her belly.

"Weeeee" Mandy squealed.

"She childish," Chrome said with a side eye.

The sun began shifting. 

The sky turned burnt orange with faint streaks of yellow, blue, and purple.

“Oh this some Arabian Nights shit!” Mandy took out her phone to capture the moment.

“Don’t forget to say your prayers!” Blake shouted from the car window.

Blake turned up the Gospel music in her car.

“Here she go with her Bishop Desmond Tutu bullshit.” Tanisha said.

They all laughed. 

Except for Azarri. She instead closed her eyes and began praying internally. 

“God, it’s me Azarri…Zarri for short. You knew that. Umm…I need you God. Please tell me what to do."

"Zarri is you praying for real?" Mandy asked.

Azarri quickly opened her eyes.

"Nah just thinking."

They all looked at her skeptically.

Blake passed a blunt to Chrome out the window. 

They all smoked and laughed. 

Blake sang along to Marvin Sapp's, Never Would Have Made It, and leaned back in her car seat.

"Blake you're high my guy!" Chrome laughed.

"I'm closer to God when I'm high sis." Blake explained..

Azarri leaned back on the hood of the car and looked up at the sky. 

She closed her eyes.

“God…me again. I’m scared. I’m really scared.”

"Zarri, don’t let the Kush push you to sleep. Fight the temptation. You’re a conqueror beloved.” Blake said.

They all laughed.

Except Azarri. She opened her eyes and sat up.

“I’m pregnant ya’ll and I’m scared. I can't believe I finally said that out loud.”

Wait. What? By who? Blake gets out of the car.

"I’m gonna be an auntie? Yes! Bitch let me Google matching outfits for me and my nephew! Yaaasss!" Mandy takes out her phone and starts her Google search.

Dawg, you definitely shouldn’t be smoking pregnant! Tanisha criticizes.

"Or skating!" Chrome adds.

"Did you hear me Zarri?" Blake asks, "Who is the guy?"

"Eduardo." Azarri confesses.

DRUNK EDDIE?!?!? They yelled.

"Yea, girl you definitely need to pray!" Mandy always came with a comeback.