Molly - Heat

New Orleans is the only place that wears shorts all year long.

We don’t have snow or seasons for that matter, so why waste the closet space with anything but summer clothes?

We never escape the heat.

One day it’ll be hot, the next day hotter.

There are many hallelujahs on a breezy day.

We handle the heat, and we stay in the kitchen. 

We are just used to the heat, so we complain when it gets cold.

We are fine when it’s hot because it gets us in the mood for ice tea.

When it’s cold, we just don’t go out, but if we do, we just run from indoor place to indoor place in our shorts, of course.

Molly, age 15

Molly - NOLA Greetings

While you are walking around you may expect to hear, “Hello, how are you?” or “What’s up?”

In New Orleans we greet each other a little bit differently.

My dad will answer the phone with “Where y’at?”

My nanny says, “Hey baby! How you doin’?”

My friends and I say, “Hey y’all!”

My friends’ parents say, “How’s ya mom an ‘em?”

The old woman at the checkout says, “Hey dawl.”

My neighbors say to each other, “Hey Mike! I saw your sister and em while I was making
groceries! Her kids are such dawlins, growing up to be such pretty ladies!”

The warm welcomes that people will find around New Orleans, whether it be from a stranger or
a friend, are the more unique and warmer than anywhere else.

Molly, age 15

Molly - Winter in NOLA

In December, it’s hot.

There are still wreaths up.

In December, it’s hot.

We still listen to jazzy Christmas carols.

In December, it’s hot.

So we eat jambalaya instead of gumbo for Christmas.

In December it’s hot.

But we still drink hot chocolate.

In December it’s hot.

But we wear our Christmas sweaters anyway.

In December it’s hot.

But we pretend that it’s cold.

Molly, age 15

Molly - I Will Defend

I Will Defend...

Him. The one with no filter

Her. The one with no friends

Him. The one who’s intelligent

Her. The one with confidence

Him. The one who doesn’t care

Her. The one who is misunderstood

Him. The one who is gossiped about

You. The one who has helped me become this way

Molly, age 15