Metairie Cemetery

I was finally able to go to a cemetery with mausoleums. Kyle, Justin, Tempi, Weldon, and I piled into the car one hot day about a week ago. We drove past a few other cemeteries on the way to this one, but Metairie Cemetery is Tempi and Weldon's favorite.

After wandering around inside the cemetery for a couple of hours, I can't say that I could currently think of a better spot to be buried. The monuments built to loved ones, although a bit of a pissing contest, were amazing.

One of the first statues I saw upon entering was this one of the angel. It stands on top of a mausoleum about seven or eight feet tall.

This next statue is huge. Tempi laughed about the size of the angel's feet until Kyle explained that the base needs to be that large to support such a tall statue.
The scrollwork on some of the gates was as fascinating as the statues and surrounding architecture.

The group was walking to the psuedo-pyramid when I saw this woman. I wonder what she's thinking about.
Oh, the psuedo-pyramid. When my time comes, I need a promise from someone that I will not be buried in a psuedo-pyramid. Well, I suppose I could make an exception if I was mummified first.

Only one flower in bloom on the rose bush growing out of a grave. Earlier tonight, I watched Aronofsky's The Fountain, and I now enjoy this picture even more.

For some of the statues, I wonder who the unidentified artist is or if there is a statue production center somewhere, filling molds and popping out new statues each minute. I prefer to think that there's an artist out there, dedicated to the beautification of these sites, without a wish for recognition. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. I'm sure the commission for these pieces was not cheap.

Also within the cemetery's walls is a tomb for Confederate soldiers. Resting under a hill is a stone semi-circle with a skylight to let in light. On the way into the tomb is a list of all those buried inside.
Attached to the wall of this mausoleum is a chain with a padlock. I imagine it's used to chain bad kids to it. Well, that's what I would tell my kids if I had any. No, I wouldn't. Eh, we'll see.

This building had one of my favorite stained glass pieces in it.

I got Kyle, Tempi, and Weldon to stand behind the closed gate. Kyle and Tempi are in the foreground, wondering what I'm up to. Weldon is unaffected.

Friday was my last day with the Behrman kids. Depending on what I can get lined up for the fall, I wouldn't mind doing a ten-month AmeriCorps program with the school. There are so many pictures from work that I need to post. I'll try to squeeze it in tomorrow.

On Tuesday, I head over to Schaumburg Elementary, a part of the Recovery School District. The Recovery School District is a group of schools in New Orleans performing so badly that the state took control of them away from the district. I don't know what all to expect since most of my information is secondhand, but kids are kids. While there may be more behavioral issues at my next site, it doesn't change the fact that they are all kids, trying to get the same basic needs met as everyone else.

Tina comes in on Wednesday. Words can't express how excited I am to see her. I'm looking for a roommate for August, and I've got a little under a week to convince her to move here. Wednesday seems so far away.