Charmed

[ladysprite]

I know the world is full of badness right now, and I know that it's bleak and horrifying, and I've been doing what I can to be both a candle in the darkness and a squeaky wheel. And I feel guilty talking about almost anything else. But at the same time... I want to chronicle some of the goodness in my life, too.

[Unknown site tag] and I just came back from a week in New Orleans, and while it wasn't quite our usual winter Week Somewhere Warm and while I'm not quite sure NoLa is quite my city, it was ultimately a lot of fun (thanks in large part to evcelt's recommendations; thank you!). But our last night there was, far and away, the best part of the trip.

We had booked an evening Haunted City tour with a company that promised a "more immersive" experience - hands-on ghost hunting, access to haunted locations, and a full recreation of a Victorian seance. I figured that, whether the ultimate experience was awfully good or just awful, it would at least be entertaining.

When our guide handed umbran, our resident skeptic, an EMF reader, I couldn't help but make a Supernatural joke. At which point the guide paused just enough to show me his Devil Trap tattoo. Within 20 minutes we were having to make a conscious effort to slow down, stay on topic, and not leave the rest of the group behind as we babbled at each other about everything from American Horror Story to the Fox sisters and their role in the Victorian spiritualism trend to the Salem witch trials and our own personal theories behind them.

The tour and the seance were both hugely fun, and as things were wrapping up I made a reference to my work in hospice and end-of-life care, and half-joked about being a psychopomp. And he paused, and told me to stick around for a few minutes after the official end of the tour.

Which is how my husband and I wound up at the invitation-only vampire and magic-users speakeasy hidden behind one of the jazz clubs on Bourbon Street, nursing something red and sugary, learning card tricks and divination, and playing 'what White Wolf setting was your favorite?'until sometime after last call.

I know that I lead a charmed life; sometimes it's just more obvious than others.....

Comments

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Definitely charmed! :)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

We need happiness and delight, and I can't think of anyone I want them for more than you. *delights in your happiness*

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a nice vacation!

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Talking about happiness is a good thing. There's lots of fighting going on and it's vital to think of what we're fighting for.

Plus the world won't be any brighter for any person missing a chance to be happy so gladly seize what joy you can - it will make you stronger and brighter for when you need your strength, and the ability to find your way.

[citabria]

That is incredibly freaking awesome!

And please, please post good things! It's knowing that there still are good things that'll get us through all of this, I suspect.

[jducoeur]

Hear, hear -- in dark times, reminders of goodness are *more* important. Thank you...