This is N.O. and You Pay to Live Here

"I could get cherries in San Diego for 99 cents," grumbled the man in front of me at Winn-Dixie on Tchoupitoulas.

The cashier barely blinked. "This is N.O., baby, and you got to pay if you want to live here," she said, noting that cherries weren't in stock but when they come in they'll be on sale for $1.99.

"Ain't that the truth. Yes, indeed," the man said softly, looking around as if expecting to see cashiers popping up left and right, ready to take our money for the privilege of living here.

And "yes, indeed," I thought, having realized yesterday that resignation has set in. I actually whooped aloud at my lowest Entergy bill since Katrina, then stopped abruptly as I realized it was STILL more than $300/month for heating and cooling 1,400 square feet. And still $75 a month more than pre-Katrina.

But you have to laugh, right? And I'll again quote the Tracey Grammer/Dave Carter song: "Just another grinning prisoner of Happytown."

Keep smiling.