Backpacking Around Northern Louisiana

A weekend of going from New Orleans, to Monroe, to Natchitoches

A note from the writer: These entries are direct, slightly edited and concise diary entries from my physical journal. With that being said, I have written entirely too much to include all of my photos in this letter so check out the separately posted photo album for this trip!

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Wednesday / March 28, 2024 / New Orleans, Louisiana

When we got to New Orleans we went to the Museum of Art (NOMA) and went through the entire three-story building. On the first floor, they were highlighting a woman named Wangechi Mutu. She is a Kenyan-American artist.

Her pieces were so incredibly complex. The walls of the museum were littered with framed mixed-media pieces, around the room were sculptures and artifacts, and in a few rooms there was an occasional enormous centerpiece. Mutu’s pieces spanned across many subjects and moods: folklore, colonialism, war, and so much more.

My favorite collection of hers was the collection on viruses. It was a series of framed mixed-media pieces that were to convey the physical representation of what different illnesses feel like within the body. It was incredible.

I tend to be very silent in museums. Maybe it helps me absorb the energy of the art and all of the creativity surrounding me. After seeing everything, my mom, sister, and I went to the NOMA cafe. I ordered a chocolate chip cookie and iced coffee with oat milk. Mainly because when I get to a certain extent of hunger, I become slightly furious.

We strolled around the park after snacking. Within the outside display of art: statues, structures, and huge pieces, were Irises on the verge of fully blooming. Specks of purple littered secluded areas of the yard.

Hours later, my mom and I sat in a small burger joint called Bub’s NOLA. They had arcade games shoved into various corners in the building, the walls were a little worn, and there was a few people also in the building with us.

After placing our order, I opened the fridge and picked out a bottle of strawberry lemonade for my mom and I to share. We ordered two Microdose burgers fully dressed and a load of fries. While I was in the bathroom washing my hands, “This Charming Man” by The Smiths started to play. Impulsively, I started to hum along and do a little shimmy. I love that song. I walked out still humming and shimmying.

Thursday / March 28,2024

We just booked our hotel in Nachitoches for tomorrow… I think I am going to go to the library and check out ‘Dead Wake’ by Erik Larson for the road. I got back from Walgreens and got some pads and two cans of vegetable and beef Progresso soup. We also did go to the library! I got Dead Wake and I also found a physical audiobook of Happy Place by Emily Henry. The device is called a playaway. It looks like a mp3 player. After checking it out, the librarian gave me a pair of earphones. I decided that, when the sun goes down, that’ll be the book I’ll listen to.

Mom and I shared a burger on our way home and the car was filled with laughter, country music, and never-ending chatter.

Friday / March 29, 2024 / 9:41am / Home

I woke up at 7am this morning buzzing with excitement. The sun was perfectly streaming in through my curtains. My room was a bright golden haze and for the first few minutes of the day, I breathed deeply and did a few large stretches.

I already knew what I was going to wear: my lucky dress. A long, purple and white plaid dress with ruffles on the sleeves and near the bottom. I refer to it as my lucky dress because every time I wear it, the world seems a little brighter, people are a little kinder. Some Southerner would compliment me, or I’d get something for free randomly. Last time I wore it, I got an entire roll of sushi and cup of rainbow sherbet for free. I was going to wear the dress with this sunhat I thrifted and her clogs.

After dressing and packing, I boiled mom and I some eggs. Once I was done eating I blasted “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson and sung and danced along while my mom made her morning tea. After, I went outside into the garden and picked our first strawberry.

1:15pm / On the road.

We’ve been on the road for 2 hours and I’ve been trying to read my book I’ve been so enamored with the scenery and my road trip playlist. My book has fallen off my lap quite a few times as I’ve tried to take photos with my camera.

Now I’m snacking on pretzels, singing Chris Stapleton’s “Starting Over” album, and enjoying the ride.

5:10pm / Monroe, Louisiana

While walking to the cafe, a car with two women passed us. The lady in the passenger seat yelled out the window, “Girl, you better wear that dress!” I love womanhood.

Now we’re at a place called Fontenot’s and we’re eating outside.

Update: The restaurant just started playing “Joy of My Life” by Chris Stapleton! This has been the best day of my life. While we were walking our the restaurant, another lady stopped me to tell me: “Your hat and dress is so adorable!” You can’t make this up!

10:33pm / Nachitoches, Louisiana

I’m laying down in bed after a warm bird bath. I just experienced the most life-changing nighttime road trip of my life.

After dinner, the sun had gone to bed. I hopped into the car, sliding my clogs off, and plugging my audiobook in.

The further we drove into the country, the less light pollution there was. The clearer our peak into the galaxy was. I was officially experiencing my first starry night on the road.

I quickly paused my book, rolled down the window, and stuck my head out of it. There was a grey haze on the horizon, the trees were a crowd of black silhouettes, and stars littered and sprinkled the sky.

My locs flowed in the wind, my arms were in the air as if I was trying to stretch and touch the heat of one of the stars.

I rode like that for a few minutes: hair getting mussed in the wind, breathing in gulps of crisp night air, my attention completely on the sky. I knew this would be a night I’d remember for years to come.

I rolled the window back up. The warmth of the car quickly engulfed me. I closed my eyes, soaking in my own awe.