Worst ever

I mentioned in the first NOLA post that we observed a drunken woman being led away in handcuffs. I thought I'd elaborate on the event.

We were innocently walking our drunken selves back to our hotel when we came up on a police officer walking with a woman who was handcuffed behind her back, purse dangling from the cuffs.

She was whining to the officer that it was "total bullshit" that she had to walk to the police station. He quietly told her that since he had to walk, so did she.

Now, those of you unacquainted with the French Quarter won't know that on Royal Street (which runs parallel and one block over from Bourbon St.) there is a police station. It is a classic white stone building, very old. There is a high wrought iron fence around the station. There are signs on the fence advertising that NOPD t-shirts are for sale within. Last winter, really quite drunk, we entered for the purpose of purchasing a shirt. Know how in old movies, there is a tall desk as you enter with an officer at the desk? Just how you find the French Quarter station. And, the officer at the desk didn't even look up when we, obviously drunk, entered. That's what I appreciate about NOPD. As far as visitors are concerned, the police are only concerned if glass is broken on the street (public safety) or if a fight starts. Most of the time, they just want folks to continue to have a good time without the need for being arrested.

So, back to our story. We assumed that since this woman was actually under arrest, she must have not wanted to just continue having a good time and must have really asked to be arrested.

Once she realized we were close by and she had an audience, she bumped up her abuses. And, I apologize for the next thing I write. It is not my intention to further the abuses or lend her credibility, but I think you won't truly get why we reacted the way we did if you don't know what she said. She looked at us, as we sped up to pass her, and said very loudly "this is some nigger ass shit." Again, my apologies.

Her abuses continued as we made our way past as fast as we could and removed ourselves from being her audience. But, once we were out of earshot, I observed that sometimes the right to remain silent is good advice. The Phenom wasn't so generous. You see, so far as the Phenom is concerned the "n" word is the worst profanity there is in the language. This is the same human who says I have the vocabulary of a longshoreman on leave. This is the same human who thinks it is funny I've bonded with an 8 year old over bad words. But, he totally would have appreciated it if the officer had seen the need to shut this woman up with the use of unnecessary force.

And, I have to appreciate knowing there the line is for the Phenom. I think it just adds character.