Memento, homo...

Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris

Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

That's what the priest says when dips his thumb in ashes and traces a cross on your forehead on Ash Wednesday. Today marks the first day of Lent in the Roman Church.

But we New Orleanians don't let it slow us down too much. St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day are both really just extensions of Carnival. No meat on Fridays? In crawfish season? No worries!

Sure, there are a lot of the faithful who will tone themselves down for Lent. Many still offer a significant "sacrifice" up for the season, such as giving up beer or chocolate for forty days.

Here's for a dry and sunny lent so we can observe the season properly, at school fairs, festivals, outdoor concerts, all building up to French Quarter Fest and our own version of May Day, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.