A Pause to Remember…
There is a Dirge on my doorstep. Last night it was Press Monkeys, darting about and chattering in the cold, shining The Big Light around and aligning, so I knew the Dirge was coming. In fact, I welcome it.
Tomorrow night is the anniversary of the murder of my neighbor, Helen Hill. While there is great sadness in this, too immense for any but her family to understand, especially knowing that their holidays will end each year with this commemoration, there is also something else.
In between the failed expectations of New Elected Officials and the Blunders of City Hall, between the Sloppy Demolition of Homes and Run Away Crime, there is definitely something else.
There is the Dirge; a small group of maybe fifty people, holding candles in the dark, shivering together in the cold, slowly pushing the sound of breaking hearts out of old brass instruments…to remember their friend.
There is no press. The cameras and lights are gone, as far as I can tell, since last nights report or update or whatever it was.
Tonight there is the Dirge, the soundtrack to an amazing act of love. To know such caring and fond rememberence brings a tear to my eyes, as indeed, how could it not. But there’s no speeches being made, no placards, no ribbons worn. There’s something else, so beautiful & rare. Hope.
Tomorrow night, light a candle for Helen Hill, for her husband, her son, our city. Then light one for yourself.
You are the reason, the action, the love, and the hope.
Oh, yes. You are.
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Lord David
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And, dear readers, do not forget that while Lord David was posting this last night it was not only the eve of the anniversary of Helen’s murder but also the actual anniversary of the slaying of Dinneral Shavers from the Hot 8 Brass Band.
This will always be a week of blood and memory to those of us who knew them.
We all miss you both, as well as every other life uselessly taken on the streets of our city.
The actual date of Dinneral’s shooting was December 28th, 2006. Please read this excerpt from Ken Fosters (Silence is Violence) blog:
“Saturday, December 29, 2007
Remembering Dinerral Shavers
Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the murder of Dinerral Shavers, the drummer for the Hot 8 Brass Band. I spent most of the day in bed, suffering from whatever it is that is going around New Orleans. But I rose briefly to give a few interviews with Fox 8 and WWL-TV. This used to be a regular occurrence but lately my teaching schedule keeps me unavailable for commentary on the crime situation in New Orleans–and I’ve been fine with that.
But, next Friday will mark one year since the murder of Helen Hill, and in that case there are still no leads. This is true of most of the approximately 210 murders in New Orleans this year.
On January 11th, SilenceIsViolence will be marking the anniversary of the march to city hall with several events, including a Brass Band blowout at the Howlin’ Wolf, with the Hot 8, Soul Rebels, Free Agents, Rebirth Brass Band, and more. Tickets are $15 and are available at the box office, online, and at Sound Cafe. All proceeds will go to the Dinerral Shavers scholarship fund.”
Thanks for the correction!