Cyndi Lauper Shrine

International Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Cyndi Lauper Shrine 2900 block Maurepas

Today the  International "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Cyndi Lauper Shrine appeared on the 2900 block of Maurepas Street.

My neighbors from across the street, Louis A. Poche and Mary Marino Poche, mentioned that they might build a shrine to Lauper a few weeks ago. I've heard several rumors about shrines being built to Brett Michaels, Tesla, and John Tesh, but I should have known Louis and Mary were serious, as they have been enthusiastic supporters of the I.S.S.J.B.J. since 2009. Their creativity was obvious when they replaced a broken pay phone that is near the International "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Cyndi Lauper Shrine.

Pay Phone Art

This morning, I returned from writing directions to my shrine on neighborhood street corners with sidewalk chalk.

Maurepas Chalk Jon Bon Jovi Shrine

 
I was delighted to discover this newest altar on the 2900 block of Maurepas Street and was even more thrilled to learn that Louis Poche referred to it on Facebook as the "International Shrine to Cyndi Lauper" since the full name of The Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi is actually "The International Special Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi." I am proud to see that the tradition of shrines on Maurepas Street continues to welcome pilgrims from around the world. When I asked Poche if the name of the shrine was the "Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Shrine," "International Shrine to Cyndi Lauper," or other, he reminded me that "The naming of shrines is less important than the devotion."  May we never lose sight of this.


In honor of the newest shrine on Maurepas, I will be playing Cyndi Lauper (as opposed to Bon Jovi) today.

Maurepas runs parallel to Fortin - the street by the Jazz Fest entrance. If you walk up Sauvage to enter the Fairgrounds at the Sauvage entrance, you can turn right on Maurepas. There is a map to my Jon Bon Jovi Shrine on this blog, and The Cyndi Lauper shrine is across the street.

Directions to Cyndi Lauper Shrine and Jon Bon Jovi Shrine Jazz Fest

My vision for Maurepas Street has always been that someday each home will host a shrine devoted to a musician who is or is not directly connected to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage. Today I weep tears of joy. Cyndi Lauper performs on The Gentilly Stage at 5:25 pm.


I hope all Cyndi Lauper fans will visit this lovely altar, complete with lace gloves and an orange boa. As Mary Marino Poche explained, "Girls just wanna have fun."

Below is my reaction and discussion with the shrine creators.