NOLA And Back

Paul and I have a long time friend -- a paralegal we did lots of business with -- and her daughter was getting married in NOLA.  So we decided to make a couples' trip out of it, and met at MIA on Thursday for the short flight across the Gulf.

We arrived at the best named airport in the US -- Louis Armstrong -- and found our Uber driver -- turned out he was a Haitian guy from Aventura.  We did a side hustle -- he's be our driver without need for the computer app.  He dropped us off at the Royal Sonesta -- Bourbon Street was in the middle of major construction, and we had to pick our way through barricades to get in -- but were greeted by its stately charm.

We unpacked and went right to Desire Oyster Bar, where they serve oysters the size of your hand.  Wifey and Paul avoided them -- Patricia and I ate away...And as we had our noon martinis, the wedding party joined us -- they were staying Downtown but walking the quarter -- and we got to know some of the folks pre wedding.

Naps ensued, and then our post Uber man was there -- to take us on a tour of the City.  He showed us Tulane, and the rest of the Garden District -- the part of NOLA I'd live in if fate took me to that no longer quite as chocolate city.  And then we were dropped at the Aloft Hotel, where the rehearsal party was in swing.

Our friend's girl is a Cuban American from Miami, now a practicing neuropsychologist in Albuquerque -- and her fiance is VERY gringo -- originally from Kentucky, but Texan now.  His grandmother was there, and his father -- married to a Native American woman from Montana.  The mix of cultures was classic NOLA -- all got along well, and drank and laughed together.

I brought some food for our driver, and he took us to Commander's Palace, for an awesome dinner of filet, and pecan crusted local fish, and seafood gumbo, of course.  It was my third time at Commander's -- I really dig the place.

Friday am Paul and I walked to the River, and had coffee on its banks, talking of times past and still to come.  We fetched our ladies and saw more of the Quarter together -- art galleries on Royal Street, and then it was, of course, time for more eating.  Our pick was venerable Brennan's -- the birthplace of bananas foster.  We stuck to the gourmet egg benedict-type dishes -- we all loved our meals.

Later it was wedding time -- a warehouse turned restaurant called Tomas Bistro.  My friend got the idea from D1's friend who was married there last year -- a wedding Wifey and I attended, and where we grew very close to Joey, who would become our son in law.

The ceremony was lovely and small -- 60 people -- and after the officiant pronounced -- we followed a brass band outside for a "second line" -- a NOLA tradition where you parade around with the newly wedded couple in front, under parasols.  If you haven't been in a second line, you need to be -- people applaud as you pass, and you dance to the fine Dixieland.

I told Wifey I might like to go out that way -- my ashes carried along -- though maybe Duval Street instead of NOLA -- and then a final toss into the ocean.  She smirked at me.

We cried at the wedding speeches -- the new groom, JonCary, spoke from the heart about his new wife, and Kristin, the bride, sang "Unforgettable" to her new man.

We left -- this time with a Scottish Uber driver, who told us he loves NOLA -- drinking culture similar to Glasgow's.

I've found two types of people -- those who hate NOLA, and those who love it.  Typically those who hate it are Disney types -- they like vacations with no surprises -- like a restaurant that serves mediocre food and lots of it.  Not me.  I love NOLA -- will take every opportunity to visit.  And this one was spectacular.

On the trip from Commander's to the hotel, we got a FaceTime (tm_) from D1 and Joey -- dressed in Japanese garb as they celebrate their Japanese honeymoon.  What a world with this technology stuff!

We flew home early Saturday, and took naps, and then my buddy Kenny came by, to attend the Canes game with me.  He's a good luck charm -- went with me to the first championship nearly 34 years ago -- and has never been to a Canes' loss.

Norman and Maria threw an epic tailgate -- and the game followed spectacularly -- Canes never trailed, and crushed #13 Va Tech.

We all did the Canes cheers on the way out.  And next week we host Notre Dame -- the biggest Canes game in a decade and a half.

It's really that most wonderful time of the year.  D2 will be home in a few weeks -- for T Day with Joey's family.

And, thankfully, the good times have been rolling...