It's Halloween and I'm just getting in from taking the kids trick or treatin'. Our 9 month old was dressed as a bumble bee. When she raspberried, we said she was a buzzin'. The 7 year old was Harry Potter w/cape, glasses, lighning birthmark and a truly irritating magic wand (that sounded off with every touch & turn) too. Both had fun and we came home with lots of loot. Too bad our 9 mth old has no teeth; I guess mommy & daddy will have to eat her candy...

Halloween with the kids was a nice change from the sadness which consumed my weekend. On Friday, I got a phone call that a good friend had died. Fr. Tarantino, Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, had a massive heart attack the day before and passed away. He was just 60 yrs old.

Fr. Tarantino and I became friends due to the Jazz Mass that he fostered at Holy Rosary. I loved the way in which the jazz music added to the celebration of the mass and wanted to broadcast the masses online. We never reached that stage; however, over the years, I managed several websites representing various ministries of the church. Every so often, Father would ask me over for lunch and we always had great conversations. Father saw me through a divorce, annulment, 2nd marriage and even baptized 2 of my children. I will miss him.

On Saturday, my brother called. He had tickets to the Saint's football game and invited me to attend. Given Fr. Tarantino's death, I wasn't really in the mood to go; however, I wanted to spend some time with my brother so I agreed.

As gorgeous as the weather was Sunday, I had to get a ride in before the football game so I bicycled down to the Superdome. About an hour before kickoff, I got on the bike and hit the lakefront trail. A stiff breeze out of the Northeast slowed my progress along the trail and I had to divert at Clearview due to trail closures associated with the rebuilding of the hurricane levee.

From Causeway Blvd, I was back on the trail all the way to the end at the Bucktown Coast Guard station. I stopped once at the top of the levee and noticed salt marsh mosquitoes flying all around me. Apparently, they were in the grass and I had disturbed them; these mosquitoes are persistent too.

I rode the 17 St. Canal bike path to Veterans and through the desolate, Katrina ruined streets of Lakeview. I took Canal Blvd to the Cemeteries. Traffic was light so I ended up riding Canal Street all the way into town. I rode to City Hall where my dad's car was parked, folded up the bike, placed it in the trunk of his Crown Victoria and walked across the street to the Dome. The football game was just beginning and, in no time at all, the Saints were behind 14-0. Things never got better but the endorphins released by bicycling didn't wear off until at least the second half of the game; thus, the Saint's embarrassing defeat really didn't bother me.

Respectfully,
Larry Lagarde
RideTHISbike.com
Urging bicycling for recreation, commuting, health and a better future.