I think they are back. The Lutherans that is. There seems to be a marked increase in buses full of young people with water bottles. These buses aren’t the ordinary convention shuttles, either. Like last year, the drivers of these giant coaches are attempting to maneuver them on the narrow one-way streets of downtown (last year, I saw one in the Quarter– illegally, mind you– that got stuck trying to make a turn). I think that means that they brought their own drivers down.
As it happens, I’m still not thrilled to have them here. I think it might have to do that particular brand of adolescent energy you get in youth groups mixed with religious mandate. There seems to be too much potential for pity, judgment and airborne hormone exposure.
I’m pretty sure it can’t be right for me to hold such negative opinions of a group of young people trying to do good and enjoy themselves. I’ve made a promise to myself to devote some meditation time to discovering what I really have a problem with. In the meantime, I’ll just try to hold my breath as I pass them on the street.
