In New Orleans' Jackson Square, we met Rufus, who was on a sabbatical from his professional life.

A printable version of the following can be found here.


June 14th, 2005

"All right sir, hello again. So, can you say your name for the camera?"

"Rufus..."

"Hi Rufus, I'm Brian. So, you said you're from Ohio--what brings you to New Orleans?"

"Just a few days of rest and relaxation."

"Do you come here often?"

"Pretty much, pretty much throughout the year--every once in a while--every chance I get actually."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Why New Orleans? When did that start?"

"I like--well, I did a Ph.D and I did research at Tulane and over at Olmstead Center and so I came down to do research and just fell in love with the place and just come back."

"How long ago was that?"

"Within the last 7-8-10 years."

"What made you fall in love with it?"

"Well, I like--I like, uh, antiquity--I like old things, I like classical cultures, I like French culture and there's a French ambience to New Orleans--almost like Baltimore, old Baltimore and so I like, uh--it's just relaxful, peaceful, laid-back, you know: the Big Easy. You don't do anything, just sit--and then, from Ohio, it's so cold in the winters and just to come here is quite refreshing."

"So what do you do when you're here? Just hang out or do you--"

"Uh, I, uh, I basically hang out, I go to the French Market--I like that--I love the restaurants so I do the restaurants, a little historical sighting every once in a while--just kinda take it easy--I like the shopping."

"Do you come alone or--"

"Somtime alone, sometime I come with others. But this is a good place to just come alone--just a sabbatical, you know, from everything."

"So what did you study here?"

"I studied--actually sociology--but it was American culture, but it was a sociology degree. And so I was doing research on a Louisiana figure--obscure figure--and so I studied here at, uh, Tulane and did the research at the Olmstead Center."

"And what do you do now?"

"I, uh, do a number of things: I pastor church, I teach at a university, I'm a counseler, writer."

"So what do you like about sociology--what got you into that field?"

"I like people. I like people--I like culture. Uh, I like helping people, I like solutions to issues--community issues, national issues, global issues."

"Is there a solution that you sorta helped create that you can tell us about--a specific?"

"Well I did some writing--commentary writing--for a couple newspapers and so I always thought that was very helpful- -really helpful to me, it was me giving back, me having a platform from which to talk about issues."

"And what was the issue? What kind of issue?"

"Numbers of issues--everything: governmental issues, army issues, Iraq War, poverty, welfare, race issues--you name it and I wrote about it."

"And what was the reaction like? Was it controversial?"

"Oh, very controversial!"

"What was that like?"

"Uh, it was, uh, on different levels--I'm from a small town and so I think that the town possibly could not handle my liberal views and that made them very controversial. And then, uh--really conservative town, very, very conservative town and I tend to be a little more, uh, free-thinking, a little more broad, broader in my thinking and I don't think they could handle it--so, it was confrontational at times, controversial most of the time."

"As far as making friends in that town or having acquiantances, do you find that your views come into play or make it a problem?"

"Oh, no no no no. I think, actually, that what happened was that I was probably one of the most respected guys in town even though my views were always controversial. So, no, that was never an issue--plus, I've been there my whole life, so, that's not an issue either--it's just that I'm pretty quiet, laid-back and, when I begin to write, I think people are a little shocked that I thought what I thought, so..."

"When did you start writing? As a child?"

"Uh, no, probably, uh--well you know, you write all the way through school, you know, so, but seriously, commentary kind of writing just in the last 3 years. Uh, and then I did a couple books. One's a history--religious history book--about all the religious figures, and my other's a compilation of a whole bunch of different commentaries that I had written--sociology, political science kind of stuff."

"Cool. So what do you do in your spare time when you're home?"

"I read, I write, uh, I love travel, and then just the regular stuff: long walks in the park and that kind of thing."

"What park? Tell me about the park."

"It's called Shelder's March. It's in Sandusky, Ohio. One of the most beautiful parks in Ohio."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Secluded, it's a lot of nature--um, ducks, turtles, raccoons, deer--the whole thing. It's a really beautiful place."

"How often do you go there?"

"Everyday--every morning. You know, I try to every morning. Just meditation, just to think, you know, for your head--spiritual experience, it really is."

"Are there other places around that you have where you've found experiences like that--like the park?"

"Well, I like--well anything that's culture really kinda like lifts me. You know, I like museums, uh, I love plays, you know, I love music--especially classical brand--operas, you know, symphonies--that kind of thing, so..."

"Do you remember when you first sort of, um, got into this culture obession you have? Do you remember--like, was there a performance or something that sticks out in your mind?"

"I just--you know, I started out in school as a history teacher so I've always been interested in just culture--American culture--and so, it's not like I got into it--it's just me, it's who I am. Always have been, I think."

"What'd your parents do?"

"My parents--my father worked in a coal mine and then in the steel mill. And my mother's always been a domestic."

"Um, and how do they feel about your career?"

"My father's not living. My father, uh, he died, actually--well, I think I was teaching school so, you know, he was living when I got out of college. But, my mother--she's probably pretty well pleased. You know, she's [unable to discern] her whole life, but she's pretty pleased."

"What do you think they saw for you when you were younger--in your future?"

"Uh, well, definitely, I come from a really religious background--very strict, fundamental kinda background--and so, um, my mother definitely saw education. She saw that as the future--as the key to the future. My father: man of few words--so, but my mother defintely saw that as a key."

"And how did she make sure that that was a part of your life?"

"Well I just think the way I was reared--the very strict home, compassionate home, but, uh, a lot of communication with the children, making sure that, uh, you know, school is the most important thing, checking up on the grades, contact with the teachers--you know, the whole thing."

"Did you--uh, as a child--did you sort of not enjoy the strictness of the atmosphere? Did you respect it then?"

"I respected it--it was, you know, all I knew--I respected it very much so. And in the courses I got known I really respected, and, you know, definitely had not it been for the way I was raised I probably wouldn't have accomplished, you know, some of the things I've accomplsihed."

"So, if you could be anywhere right now--uh, you know it could be here if you're happy here--you know, what would be the most pleasing place and activity for you to be doing right now?"

"Uh, probably something similar to this: just relaxing. Uh, if I couldn't be here I would probably like to be in Crah, West Africa, Ghana, or Rome--my favorite cities--just doing what I'm doing now."

"And what do you exaclty call this--that you're doing?"

"A sabbatical. I call it a sabbatical--a sabbatical from everything."

"And what do you think about on a sabbatical--what kind of thoughts?"

"I try not to think about anything. I try not--I don't turn the television on, uh, I try not to--I had to this time 'cause of Michael Jackson's trial, you know [laughs] so I had to listen to that, but, uh, usually I try not to think about too much of anything. I try not read or anything. I sleep a lot and then I get up and just kinda walk around and come back and relax. So..."

"Great. That sounds fabulous. Well, thank you very much sir..."