Minerva Wanders

 At first glance its a shithole.  Tourist shops, frozen drink machines, the sidewalks wet from clearing of last night's piss and vomit.  Blech.  But there must be something about this place.  let's look a little closer.   The history is there.  you can see it in the architecture.  The buildings are detailed with wrought iron and gingerbread.  Many corners are commemorated with chipped tiles informing any who care to read, the former Spanish names of the streets.  Jackson square is in the middle of the madness.  St. Louis is still a church.  Then there are those who make their living telling stories.  They can tell you about the pirate Lefitte.  He helped save his city when called by Andrew Jackson to fight against the British.  They might even show you his old smithy.  Its a bar now that sells, sigh, booze slushies.  But notice the lack of electric light.  The fire still burns.  History i...

The year was 1965.  My mom was 19 and working in Germany.  She was well known as the hot waitress down at the Ziegelhutte.   Colin Powell was 28 and in between Vietnam tours.  His wife was pregnant with their second child.   I believe their paths may have crossed.   A lot of the customers at the Ziegelhutte were military.  They were known as the "safe" spot.  In other words, no Nazis.  Apparently, that was still a thing in Germany in the 60s, though most kept it on the down low.  One day the restaurant had to open back up in between the lunch and dinner rushes.  Some American soldiers were coming through and needed a meal.  Well that's what the Ziegelhutte was in business for.  You couldn't turn away customers.  My Mom had to get up and go take their order.  She was used to a little flirtation.  It comes with the job.  It stood out to her though because she hadn't seen many black men befo...