Birthday Bliss

Photo courtesy of Sister

Dear Grammie-

I had the most wonderful birthday weekend in New Orleans.  It rained almost the entire time we were there, but no matter.  I ate my weight in seafood and beignets.  I bought a beautiful copy of To Kill a Mockingbird at William Faulkner's house-turned bookstore.  I ate at Irene's Italian Cuisine.  Twice.  We listened to jazz music at Preservation Hall.  We even made it out to Dr. Bob's art "studio" where I picked out a hand painted sign.  Everything there was quirky and whimsical (including Dr. Bob himself!) and you would have LOVED it!

The rain broke for a few hours and we took a bicycle tour of the city.  The tour guide was so enthusiastic about our familial connection to New Orleans that he incorporated your house into our tour.  (Cheers to Confederacy of Cruisers!) We pulled up at at 4123 Royal and got off our bikes to take pictures.  I told everyone about the Catholic orphanage across the street and how your grandparents were called on at all hours of the night to stand is as godparents for the christening of every single orphan that came through the door.  I told them how you used to walk to the dock of the Mississippi River and beg the sailors to take you on board. (They never did.) I even told them about your favorite prank--hiding the roll of toilet paper from the ten adults that lived in the four-room, one-bathroom house during the Great Depression.  After we got back on our bikes and pulled away from your house, the tour guide turned back to me and said, "You should keep telling Grammie stories while we ride."

I had to smile.

Telling Grammie stories on a single-speed Schwinn bike . . . the wind blowing through my hair . . . taking care to avoid pot holes, Tarot card readers, pit bulls and Jesus freaks.  Could a birthday be better spent?  I think not.  It was exhilarating and joyous, and given the break in the otherwise constant rain, downright miraculous.

Thank you for Grammie stories.  And thank you for giving me so many reasons to love New Orleans. 

Sincerely,

SEE