Thursday July 19, 2012
Corrected post from an earlier one complete with typos during internet distress at my hotel...
It is rare that i send a link rather than a personal report but yesterday was one rare day. If not for massive problems getting the internet to work at my hotel (I've walked through the rain to another hotel two blocks away) you'd get the up close and personal brand of pt at large.
In next few days, you'll get the pt at large perspective with comments from Uncle Lionel's relatives, friends, fellow musicians, and the everyday people who were Uncle Lionel's kind of people.
Today from 10 AM to 5 PM, it felt like the entire neighborhood of Tremé tipped on one side and funneled every man,woman, and child into the large viewing room at the Charbonnet Funeral Home on St. Phillip Street, not far from where Uncle Lionel lived his larger than life life...the last legend of New Orleans.
I went into the viewing room, saw a casket lined in lustrous white silk -EMPTY. "Where is Lionel?"
A fellow visitor pointed. Standing, yes, standing, in the midst of a small area cordoned off by red velvet cords, stood, yes, stood, Uncle Lionel dressed to the nines, felt hat to brown spats, every bit the dapper incarnation of the man still fresh in everyone's memory.
The tears will come tomorrow perhaps but today was a celebration. Music from every song the Tremé Brass Band ever recorded is piping through the speaker system. The expressions on the faces of visitors are priceless, varied, unique and ultimately reflect deep appreciation.
The Batiste family insisted that No photos be taken inside the viewing room. There's one in the Times Picayune story linked here.
I'm on my way to Uncle Lionel's funeral at the Mahalia Jackson Theater For The Arts in Louis Armstrong Park at the edge of Tremé. More to come.
http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/07/uncle_lionel_batiste_gets_send.html
Hi Paul,
What a wonderful story…really out of the box! This is great example of why I love your perspectives and insights…keep them coming. I just ordered a deck-stepped mast section and instructed my funeral director how I want to be positioned as I put in the third reef.
Posted by: Dick Dowall | July 20, 2012 at 08:14 PM
Great response, Dick, made me laugh out loud here in the Community Coffee Shop on the corner of Royal and St Philip in the French Quarter, the internet connection at my hotel being non existent, I'm here to get late afternoon jolt and get online for a bit, have a ton of stories in my notebook to begin transcribing tonight.
Get this…deluge all morning, from about 10:30, half hour before the funeral (not the precise word for the event) began. The director extended the program in hope that rain would subside but it flooded the cemetery and streets during the two hour celebration (and it's still coming down) so the funeral procession and second line from Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts to the Mount Olivet Cemetery was postponed and will begin at the Charbonnet Funeral Home Monday.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who spoke at the ceremony, gave the green light for the postponement, which will close down all the streets from the funeral home to the cemetery for hours.
My reservation home is for Sunday, now trying get flight home on Tuesday. I've been told this is not to be missed, the likes of this will be historic…and I believe it, everything I've seen at the wake and this funeral has been just that. Stay tuned, more when i get back online thanks for the wonderful comment!
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large | July 20, 2012 at 08:35 PM
But for you, how would we ever know of such things? An amazing story -- fuels my desire to visit this sacred place. Anxiously awaiting the next chapter......
Posted by: Barbara Widett | July 20, 2012 at 10:57 PM
You hit it on the head, Barbara, this place is sacred with a streak of the profane, the worldly kind of profane that includes the rough edges of life and smooths them down with music, food, and culture.It's not paradise and you have to pay attention.
"Be careful out there," Uncle Lionel's son said to me as I left the wake.
Ive met some of the friendliest, most engaging people from all walks of life that I've ever encountered, many of them yesterday and today at Uncle Lionel Batiste's wake and funeral.
The funeral procession was postponed - torrential rain flooded the streets and cemetery this morning during the funeral inside Mahalia Jackson Theater. Funeral is postponed till Monday, Im trying to change my flight home so I can witness this, it promises to be epic.
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large | July 20, 2012 at 11:31 PM
there was a great write up in the NY Times - perhaps last Tuesday ......
...trust you had a blast .....
reminds me about Ireland .... often heard people say that the best craic was at funerals ... and as my sister always says, better than weddings in that you don't need an invite ... and don't need to bring a present .....
Posted by: Bernard Ussher | July 20, 2012 at 11:47 PM
Good luck with the flight! All us vicarious " livers " are with you.
Posted by: Barbara Widett | July 21, 2012 at 09:42 AM
OH....MY....GOD!!! Initially stunned to read about Uncle Lionel's last "stand" but then thought,"How appropriate!!" Definitely not for the rest of us, I hope. I am keeping this article away from George for fear of what he may request when it is his time!!! Don't think these are the pc words but....enjoy the funeral!
Posted by: Joanne Yeomans | July 21, 2012 at 10:24 AM