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Andra Watkins

Hoodoo Voodoo

After talking with my mother about self defense on the Natchez Trace, I decided to go in a different, unorthodox direction. Because I'm me. And because my mother's my mother. (Carlos Ovalle, you have NO IDEA how apt your t-shirt suggestion is: FORGET MY GUN. BEWARE OF MY MOTHER. Seriously, people. When she arrives in Mississippi, nobody better mess with me.)

After talking with my mother about self defense on the Natchez Trace, I decided to go in a different, unorthodox direction. Because I’m me. And because my mother’s my mother.

(Carlos Ovalle, you have NO IDEA how apt your t-shirt suggestion is: FORGET MY GUN. BEWARE OF MY MOTHER. Seriously, people. When she arrives in Mississippi, nobody better mess with me.)

Anyway.

A couple of years ago, when To Live Forever was just a weird concept, I visited New Orleans for the first time. (Yes, I realize it’s pathetic that I was 42 when I went to New Orleans for an inaugural visit.) On that trip, I decided the story needed a mascot. A cheerleader. Someone who was connected to the place, who could root for it from the sidelines and help breathe it to life.

I wandered around the market with my cousin Lori, drinking in her descriptions of growing up in New Orleans, of how the place looked when she was a kid, of how it was different in the 1970s. We walked around a corner, and I saw my mascot, impaled on a swivel stand in a market stall.

It’s only fitting that the thing that wrote every word of my novel with me should be pinned to my backpack for my walk. Surely, it will scare someone.

Right?

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34 Comments

  1. Honey, I’m quaking in my boots!…. ok, not boots, scuffy slippers, but I’m still a little uneasy.

  2. I have one by my bed. No one should mess with me either.

  4. I think you should dress and paint your face similar to the doll. THAT would scare people away.

  5. Love it! Let your mascot do its voodoo thing and keep all the miscreants at bay. Brilliant.

    Also, I think that bikerchick57 is on to a good idea. Hiking with multiple feathers on top of your head won’t be a problem, will it?

  9. It’s like the two of you are in it together. Love it! Does your voodoo doll represent someone, or rather some thing? It looks like he has some pins, which lead me to wonder.

  10. That is a serious chuckle. Smarts count and you got ’em.

  16. THAT IS AWESOME! Great choice Andra! About your Mom…my kids say the same thing about me and I take a lot of pride in that. 😀

  17. Actually the way to be safe is to act crazy. The war paint idea is good, but walking the trail just might do it on its own.

  19. “It’s very bad to steal Jobu’s rum. Very bad.”

    I don’t expect you to know where that came from, but I had to say it nonetheless.

  20. I’ve never been to New Orleans. Maybe in six years – perfect timing for Clan Ross’ American South Adventure.

  21. You hold it up in front of a would-be assailant, give a fiendish grin, and start sticking pins into it!
    I did love the recent story of a girl out jogging and three men attacked her. The police took them away still groaning and squirming. She is an unarmed combat trainer.

  23. Hmmm. I dunno about the paint thing, as tromping around the Trace in blackface is probably not so hot an idea (just sayin’). However, as a mascot, that’s a good idea. I’ll even suggest an improvement on that little guy:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us2tYEQsjO0

    Although… now that I see this clip again… maybe he’s a bit TOO easily ticked off to carry in or have on your person. Eeek.

  24. Its difficult to find the proper balance between weapon freak and helpless dove, but thats something you have to figure out yourself, as you may have already, theres no point carrying a gun or such if you dont really want to use it.
    The only advise I cant think of, is putting google maps in satellite and trying to learn the terrain as much as possible, it can give you a good advantage in many situations.
    Voodoo Andra looks cute.

  27. Somewhere in a box I have a similar doll I brought back for New Orleans. I think that’s the perfect talisman to bring with you. Forgive me for never thinking of your safety along the Trace! I somehow took that for granted. I have been more concerned about the weather. i’m glad your mother was thinking like a mother!

  29. Oh Andra…. No one is going to mess with you. All you need to do is whip out the tears, the odd scream (think of that tax receipt thing) and mumble unintelligibly to yourself (as you’ve been doing during training walks). No one will go near the crazy lady, voodoo doll or not.

  31. Between your mascot and your mother, you should be all set! Watch Out World!

  32. That’s awesome Andra.! Love the mascot.! Btw – love Wilco too.!! I used to listen to Jeff Tweedy when he first started playing with Uncle Tupelo here in Chicago 😀 Nice…

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