Welcome to New Orleans
Ana and Ponders take a walk after beignets, and meet the Man in the Mississippi.
Map of New Orleans from 1880.
Notes
Support:
Music:
This episode features Lylo (All Will be Will) from the album Mason Jar of Home by Black Agnes and Mike Dunbar.
Credits:
This episode was written by Ana O’Daniel and T.H. Ponders, and performed by Ana O’Daniel, T.H. Ponders, and Conscious Walker or “C”. It was produced by Keisha TK Dutes and T.H. Ponders.
Our season two art was made by the incomparable V Silverman. This music also features sounds from Zapsplat. Our executive producers for this season are Charles Gustine and James Oliva.
Show
We hear Cafe Du Monde receding in the background and footsteps as they walk away.
Ponders: So were beignets everything you thought they would be?
Ana: They were so much more. I have never seen more icing sugar in my entire life. Speaking of which you have some still on your shirt.
Ponders brushes off shirt.
Ponders: Oh! Thank you.
Ana: You’re welcome.
Ponders: But I definitely need to walk all this food off.
Ana: I wonder where those steps go?
Ponders: There’s only one way to find out!
They walk up the steps. The city fades behind them, as we now hear the sounds of the Mississippi River.
Ana: Wow. Look how big it is. You can barely even see the other side.
Ponders: Oh man. This is beautiful. Wanna walk down the steps and dip our feet in the Mississippi?
Ana: I think you know my answer to that.
The walk down to the water, and Ponders plops a foot in.
Ponders: Oh! It’s cold but it feels really nice.
Ana plops their feet into water.
Ana: Ahhhhhhh thats cold.
Ponders: Ya gotta get used to it a bit.
Ana: Mmmmm… fine.
Ana’s feet plop back in the water. But then…
SPLASH!
Ponders: What the!
Ana: Woah!
Mississippi Man: Afternoon folks!
Ana: Uh...hi?
Mississippi Man: Fancy yourselves a swim in the mighty Mississippi?
Ponders: I think we’re ok for right now. It’s a bit cold.
MM: Only for a minute! Once you go for a couple of laps it warms up.
Ana: We’re not really dressed for it, but maybe next time!
MM: Suit yourselves! I’ve been coming here everyday since I was a little boy. Rain or shine I swim from this side of the river to the other side.
Ponders: All the way to the other side?
Ana: But it’s huge!! How far is that even?
MM: Oh it’s only about 1500 feet.
Ponders: (aside to Ana) That’s about 450 Canadian.
Ana: Thanks tips.
MM: Oh you’re from Canada? These waters get their start up near those parts. Lake Itasca up in Minnesota!
Ana: You know a lot about this river then?
MM: Well you swim in a river long enough, you get to learning everything you can about her. Right down there is the deepest part of the river- 191 feet deep!
Ponders: (aside to Ana) 58 Canadian.
Ana: (aside to Ponders) I know what numbers mean! (to MM ) You must be from around here then?
MM: Born and raised.
Ponders: And you swim here every day?
MM: Every day! It does the body good. Keeps my circulation going. You gotta find something that keeps you moving. And it does the mind a fair bit of good as well. Every day I wade into these waters with a mind full of troubles, and come out the others side with equanimity.
Ponders: Equanimity?
MM: It means level headed-ness. Calm in the eye of the storm. When everybody out there freaking out, theres gotta be at least one person that has their wits about ‘em. That’s me.
Ponders: I like that. I’ll keep that in mind.
Ana: So have you swam your length for the day?
MM: Yeah, but, on a hot one like today I usually make a couple laps. It’s the summer! You gotta be swimming somewhere! Are you sure y’all don’t wanna take a dip? The water is fine!
Ponders: Next time for sure.
MM: Suit yourselves.
Splash. They start to swim away.
MM from a distance: Alright, next time then! I’ll be here!
Lylo begins to play.
TK: That was Lylo off of the album Mason Jar of Home by Black Agnes and Mike Dunbar. You can find that and all of Mike’s incredible sounds wherever you listen to music. This mini-sode was written and performed by T.H. Ponders and Ana O’Daniel and features Conscious or “C” as the Man in the Mississippi. It was produced by T.H. Ponders and me, Keisha TK Dutes. The transcript, links to our social media and Patreon, and links to Mike’s music can be found on our website at accession.fm. Accession: Homeward, Episode 2, Take Me to the River, comes out next Thursday, February 20, right here on this feed. Until next time, we’ll be here.