Perfect

There are days, whole weeks even, in the month of October where everything seems perfect. It is as though all the elements -- the weather, the breezes, the smell of the flowers, the clear true blue sky, the gloriously mild temperatures, the sweet sunshine -- have conspired to make New Orleans the most beautiful place on earth. Your body receives the coolness like a gift, and somehow your mind almost forgets the heat and humidity of just a few weeks before. Natives think longingly, "If only it could always be like this!"

I always think to myself that folks who visit New Orleans for the first time in October (or its counterpart in spring, April) must wonder what all the hue and cry about the weather in the Crescent City is all about. "Why, it's absolutely perfect here!" they must exclaim in wonder.

Big Man and I have been making the most of these perfect days -- long walks and long drives, sitting on the seawall at the Lakefront, picnicking under a shelter and watching the sailboats scud along, their colorful spinnakers bellied out. Even yard work is no real chore, and Big Man cleared the oleander that was threatening to take over our little brink courtyard in the back. Up North in the fall, folks have to clear fallen dead leaves -- we have to chop back bushes and plants that continue to grow and thrive well into November and even December.

Flowering plants that had wilted in the appalling wet heat so recently past are now jauntily holding their bright heads up. The city is still full of flowers, who seem very happy not to have to cope with high temperatures and humidity.

Magazine Street is once again thronged with strolling shoppers and in the French Quarter, the "season" (tourist and affluent conventioneer season, that is) has started in earnest. Locals mildly complain about how "cold" it is once the sun goes down, but everyone from "away" knows this is not cold at all, it's just like having air conditioning outside.

Sunny, breezy days and cool, clear nights -- it's perfect.