So Anne Marie, tell me about Monsters and Angels in one sentence.
How about one picture?
“We don’t choose who we love.”
-Sorcha Alden
So perfect, so tragic…
Tag Archives: New Orleans
NYC to NOLA, One Nurse’s Journey
Tonight I had the pleasure of visiting a historic, French Quarter residence to interview Sorcha B. Alden, a 2015 nominee for the “Light Up Every Room” award. A career nurse, Sorcha was born September 3, 1916 and has cared for patients around the world in her quest to relieve suffering and celebrate every precious moment of life. She currently resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ms. Alden, congratulation on your nomination!
Thank you for traveling so far for to interview me.
I know you’re from New York City, were you born there?
Yes, at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Hell’s Kitchen.
What prompted you to move so far south?
Initially, for a job, but New Orleans gets under your skin. I felt the ground shake when I stepped off the train in 1935…I didn’t realize it then, but I was home.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
My mother, Adelaide Alden. She passed away when I was 21 years old. My life’s path has been about honoring her legacy.
You don’t look a day over 22…what’s your secret?
I may have found the fountain of youth, but it’s cost me everything.
Who has been the most influential person in your incredible journey and why?
Dr. Raimond Banitierre. He taught me how to stare adversity in the face and cherish every gift I was given. Balancing love and duty was his greatest strength.
Have you ever been in love?
Once. Well…yes, just once.
Are you married?
In my heart, I am. Officially, my husband and I are separated. It’s complicated.
What are you most passionate about?
Preserving the dignity of people at the end of their lives. Treasuring our ancestors and their memories.
What makes you angry?
Seeing people disrespected because they’re different. Acceptance is the key to survival.
What makes you strong?
The unwavering support of my family and friends.
What character trait do you most admire in others?
Vicious loyalty.
One more hard question…what was the most important day of your life?
New Year’s Day, 1955. I faced my fears and won back New Orleans for the Banitierres and Aldens.
Now, let’s have some fun. What’s your favorite drink?
The Garnet Martini. It won’t be on the drink menu, but any New Orleans bartender worth their salt can mix it.
Favorite musician?
Band—Volbeat. Musician—Lady Gaga or Meatloaf. Depends on my mood.
Your favorite color?
Sapphire.
Favorite vacation spot?
Scotland. The Isle of Skye.
What holiday do you look forward to each year?
Halloween…and Christmas. I love to decorate for both.
If you could give a piece of advice to future generations, what would it be?
Strength to forgive your enemies, vision to see power in diversity, and the courage to lead will pave the road for a brilliant future.
The Calling
Even thousands of miles away, hints bombard the senses, every minute of every day.
The burst of fresh coffee’s aroma, and the knowledge that it won’t be perfect.
A wall of air so steamy, it’s worn like soggy paper.
Silent fog, swirling, devouring all in its path without remorse.
Snippets of jazz, riding on a veiled wind.
The fleeting whiff of a long forgotten candle.
Whispers of spirits hidden in the midnight rain.
In her sultry voice, New Orleans is always calling us home.
Getting Away With It
Empty? Maybe.
Silent? Never.
Hands on the clock crawl to that moment when day gives way to sultry dusk and all souls stir in their tombs, destined for midnight’s wicked frenzy.
This air buzzes with history’s notes—flashy keyboards and wailing horns. Floor boards creak underfoot, worn thin by musicians and their dancers, nobles and their courts.
Dazzling lights of royalty fell dark only once, born again amidst sapphire flame and victory bells.
Every chance I get, I sneak in, close my eyes and remember the devilry and decadence, incense and absinthe. Precious memories of brothers and sisters, fast friends and young lovers, chasing their dreams and tempting fate in the Golden Age.
We got away with all of it…
S
Since The First Time…
“Once you’ve visited New Orleans, the rest of your life will be spent planning to return.
That is…if you ever leave at all.”
I’m a life-long New Jersey resident, but I find bits and pieces of New Orleans everywhere I go.
One twinkle of fine crystal, whiff of incense or wail of a late-night saxophone, and I’m in the Vieux Carre. Standing on the crooked curb, hiding under balconies to dodge raindrops, or running my hands over walls that have witnessed centuries of Crescent history.
Last night we visited Frenchtown, NJ and the marvelous studio of our friends, Linda and Stefan Bright. One look at the chandelier medallion and I discovered the NOLA connection there too.
Thank you for a delicious dinner and a fantastic night of catching up!
Always remember, it’s never too early for Abita Amber in a go-cup.
Just Like You
Rain, rain and more rain. Gloom makes it easy to hunt, but the quality of blood wandering the streets? Seriously lacking.
I did it again tonight–just once, but once is enough.
You probably thought I wasn’t paying attention or assumed I disapproved so vehemently that I took no notice of your method. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Anonymous, brutal and wickedly sexy. No need to cover my tracks. My bite is so precise, almost surgical, it would take a microscope to see the wounds. My prey certainly never see me coming–or leaving. I drop them in a crumpled heap where they stood.
A viper, a reaper, an unapologetic monster …just like you.
Veiled
Always alone when the veil drops…
Crystals shiver and jingle in the breeze of an airless room.
A brittle shadow.
Blur of a fading spirit. Whisper of a borrowed dream.
Hope is a tease.
Beneath the worn floor pounds a heartbeat that survived hell.
Belief is paradise.
The scarred clock ticks and restarts time with a union of eternal souls.
…never really alone.
Until Next Year…
At midnight, it was technically over. The beads, drinking, news coverage and the official police sweep of Bourbon Street. Over for the outsiders. Locals and mortals all know the fun is just beginning. With the eyes of the world elsewhere, the city can drift back to the Crescent version of normal.
Bring on unbridled mischief and joyful mayhem until the unforgiving daggers of sunlight drive us underground. Wicked is just firing up in secret chambers where the Mississippi’s power thunders only inches away.
Yes, if you’re looking at your calendars…it’s been weeks since Mardi Gras. This is the first night I’ve been drawn out into the fresh air. Perfect timing to witness spring exploding and watch Mother Nature and legendary spirits walk hand in hand.
New Orleans is never herself until magic reigns free.
Until next year…
Walk With Phantoms
Can you walk by without stopping?
This humble door is an escape portal.
Resist the temptation for another look?
Silence and serenity are illusions.
Fight that impulse to sneak down the corridor?
Once your footfalls echo in the hallway, you’re hooked. Everyone receives a different gift from the courtyard. Snippets of clandestine conversation, pulsating dancers in hazy darkness, or the giggle of a bride on her wedding night. Flashes of history glimpsed through the fountain’s eyes. Remnants of passion sentenced to mingle forever in a purgatory of brick…until a brave mind happens by.
You’re fed what your soul secretly craves.
Feel the pull. Take the chance.
Walk with phantoms.
The Shimmer Where You Stood
Damn this lonely and bleak season.
Could you be a ghost? Are the undead capable of haunting each other? Credible sources tell me no. Not possible.
Yet, you come to me in dreams so vivid, I tremble for hours. Everywhere in this labyrinth, I see you. Your figure blurs in one blink and fades to nothing in the next. A mirage of the way you were on the day we met-innocent and unscarred.
Tricks for my eyes and torture for my soul.
Lies and treachery are woven into life’s tapestry for New Orleans’ first family. Theatrics seem normal-until they sabotage everything.
One last fight. Crossed signals.
One final truce. Buried resentment.
One handwritten note. Love paid the price.
My eternal mission is to rekindle that fire and honor our wedding vows. I did write them myself.
Monsters & Angels 