In 2003 and 2004, I took two Fiction Workshop writing courses at Vanderbilt, which were required for my English Creative Writing Major. My story - whose plot I no longer remember as it has been lost in PC wasteland - included a scene on a lake in Louisiana. I was writing about someone watching the sun go down behind the plants (industrial, that is). Everyone in the class thought it was so strange; "what's going on with the industrial plants in the way of a sunset? Mass confusion amongst the other, non-Louisianian students.
My professor, Tony Earley, an inspiring author and professor, spoke up, and I remember that he said something to the effect of, "you have to understand that this is what a sunset view is for most Louisianians; the industry has massively affected their view. This is exactly on point for Louisiana," And so it was. And so the sunsets say it all about Louisiana, the coast, the industry, the way the sun falls, the way that soon no living being will no any other coastline than what we've got. Maybe it's ugly, but also, it's just a part of the state we have to accept and learn to know that it is part of something greater that we love.
"A good side, a bad side, a past, a future. ... we must embrace both in someone we love. And I tried." -from The Tourist.
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