A few weeks ago, my high school graduation class from Fortier in New Orleans held a class reunion, the first since Katrina.In preparation for the union, we formed a listserve and chatted, becoming acquainted once again, this time with help of the “digital age”.The use of email was so successful that we continued the conversations post-reunion.One day, a former alumnus suggested those still living in the New Orleans area come “see Candy”.
“See Candy” was a bit ironic since she was one of the students in the class who could not see.I personally knew of her only by the very high grades she made in school and her counting the steps from one class to another to her chair in the rooms.To me, she was blind, therefore, “not cool” and it was so very important as a teenager to be “Mr. Jock” or “Ms. Popular” or “The Best Looking”.The “most blind” was a category none of us cherished and for many, simply being with her was tantamount to the plague.
Years have past.Most of us have reached some maturity, it seems.And, some of us now have had the opportunity to see “Sweet Candy” perform.Out of amazement for her talents, some of us made certain we “saw” her again, knowing she could not see us, but making her know we were there for her and she was making great music, and certainly providing us with a grand sense of pride.
Candy Riedl Lowe is not just a real beam of sweetness but a New Orleans-area keyboard player possessing a lovely voice.She has also been blind throughout her life.Her story and her songs illustrate what talent, intelligence and determination can do for those who see the light in life.
Ironically, on this Memorial Day weekend, we will honor those who have made the extreme sacrifice.Some of us, for one reason or another could not or did not serve for our country militarily.But, those who have fought and died committed their lives so that people who wanted to be the big man or woman on campus could be so.And, our soldiers fell so those who were handicapped could follow their dreams they could not see with their eyes, but could visualize with their minds.We are blessed to have the memories of our American heroes, and honored to know people such as Candy Riedl Lowe.We are able to acknowledge that age has made us wiser yet willing to deeply appreciate the ultimate sacrifices made, and understand the real blindness that has existed in so many of us who have been fortunate to travel through our very full lives showered with God’s blessings garnered with all of our senses.On this holiday, we know this great country is full of people moving to a different drummer or keyboard.Let’s appreciate America’s greatness which allows us to recognize our differences, yet enables us to enjoy the awesome sense of sameness.
Enjoy the holidays and these four short audios of a New Orleans talent.
Beaucoup thanks to whoever wrote the story about heaven and hell! I'll remember it and tell it again! Written by Robert Desmarais Sullivan
on 5/27/2008
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Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,,,,,,,,,, a story that has something to do with humanity, compassion, and understanding...... How quaint Steve........ And now that we have had that touchy feely article,,,,,, Back to Louisiana Business as Usual...... But first, a parting fable......................................A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the
scenery when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered
dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He
wondered where the road was leading them......................
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of
the
road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was
broken
by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight..............
When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch
that
looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked
like
pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as they got
closer, he
saw a man at a desk to one side..........
When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"....
"This is heaven, sir," the man answered......
"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.......
"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought
right
up.".......
The man gestured and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in too?" the traveler
asked..........
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."............
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and
continued
the way he and his dog had been going...............
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to
a
dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never
been
closed.......... There was no fence..............
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree
and
reading a book............
"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"...
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there; come on in."....
"How about my friend here?" the traveler again gestured toward the dog.....
"There should be a bowl by the pump."....
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned
hand
pump with a bowl beside it..................................
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then
gave
some to the dog....
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man standing
by
the tree....
"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked...................
"This is heaven," he answered.................
"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said
that was heaven, too."....
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?...... Nope.
That's
hell.".......
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"..............
"No..... We're happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their
best
friends behind."
Written by
on 5/27/2008
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Stephen and Robert, thank you for you very important thoughts. We often go through life with prejudices agains individuals for various reasons. We tend to want to be accepted. However, in some instances there are those who because of physical or mental disabilities cannot do what many of us can. Judge not the person by how they look, what they are able to do physically, or even because of their mental abilities (poor or high), but judge them by what they do for others. I was one of those with high mental abilities but poor abilities for physical activities. Now, dears, that does not mean that I have lost my looks, it is just that I have grown more mature. I remember the phone calls from my fellow students to help them get through the difficult problems of education. I learned that teaching was so important. I chose that role in life and I do not regret it. Robert, I do hope that you continued to teach and that you touched the lives of some students. Nothing pleases me more that being approached by a former student who gives me thanks - some even say that they should have listened to me more carefully. Well, dears, we always make mistakes in life, but on this special day we can look at the mistakes, admit them, and then go forward to correct them in some way even though we are much older, but much wiser (hopefully). Let us remember those whose blood was spilled for the betterment of this nation, but also those who gave of themselves to us and what we can give to others even though we may be more mature in years now. Let us especially remember the young men and women who are fighting now. Although we may disagree with the purpose of their fight, we still must honor them and protect their families that remain here at home, absent a father, a mother, a child, or another loved one. Let us unite this nation on this day and pray for peace and act for peace here and abroad. Written by RhettsWife
on 5/26/2008
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Stephen, it's characteristic of your generosity of spirit to memorialize on Memorial Day the panache of someone who has given fully of her talent despite a handicap that could have brought her down! I've never heard Candy's music, and that's my loss. You give a different meaning to Memorial Day from the usual one. For you, it seems to be a time to remember all that gives us life. I think that's appropriate. Those who have died on battlefields are not the only ones who have given us life and are not even the only ones who have defended our lives. All of us who care have served our country, as you do by your writing and speaking, or as a teacher does by instructing students. You speak of those who did not serve in the military. I was the son of an Army officer and wanted to be an officer like him. When I graduated from Tulane, I went to Selective Service and passed all exams, and the recruiter said, 'Congratulations, Lieutenant' as I left. Then I went home and asked my father what we were doing in Vietnam, and he said he knew why he had been in Germany but didn't know why I should go to Vietnam. So I found a legal way not to do military service by teaching. Had I not found a legal way, I would have gone to Canada. But you and I are not the only ones who think of Memorial Day as a day to memorialize all that gives life. Memorial Day is not actually a day to pray for U.S. troops who died in action but rather a day set aside by Congress to pray for peace. The 1950 Joint Resolution of Congress which created Memorial Day says: “Requesting the President to issue a proclamation designating May 30, Memorial Day, as a day for a Nation-wide prayer for peace.” (64 Stat.158).
Written by Robert Desmarais Sullivan
on 5/25/2008
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A few weeks ago, my high school graduation class from Fortier in 
