"Every new friend is a new adventure...the start of new memories."

"There is always room in the heart for one new friend."

 "Never underestimate the power of a cousin."

"A cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." 

"There are a lot of places I like, but I like New Orleans the best."

"No matter where in the world you go, New Orleans is always a part of you."

"You can live in any city in America but New Orleans is the only city that lives in you."

"There are certain things in life that I love. Architecture, music, culture, food, and people. New Orleans has all of that."

          N is for Natalie. There are two Natalies I know. One is my cousin; the other, a new friend I met. I want to talk about my cousin first.

          My cousin Natalie is only three months old. She was born on October 8th. During winter break, right after Christmas, I spent a week with her. I changed, played, burped, fed, and napped with her. If I wasn't with Natalie, I was with her sisters and brother. For that week, Natalie and I were attached to the hip. For two of the days I was with her, she threw up on me at least three times; the days she threw up on me were laundry days luckily.

          My friend Natalie is a new friend. I met her at honor band auditions. It was an interesting meeting. I was sitting listening to music, and we just started listening to my music on my phone using my earbuds. Later, I found out that we were in the same honor band group. Natalie plays the french horn, so it's cool that three of my friends play french horn.

          N is also for New Orleans. I was born and raised right on the edge of New Orleans. Often, my family would take trips to the aquarium, insectarium, and the zoo. After those trips, we would walk to a restaurant in the area. Sometimes, we just explored the French Quarter; it was always a favorite of mine. The architecture always managed to astound me.

          So many memories of New Orleans are around me that it has always been a part of me. Nowhere I ever go can compare to New Orleans. The music, smells, art, buildings, and people have all made New Orleans forever my home. My mother and I are even planning a trip down to New Orleans just to walk around and see everything.