A Visit

MOM

It was a good weekend for visitors. Ms. Moose Tracks' friend from home came down on Tuesday night and stayed until today. This weekend, mom was also in town. Apparently, New Orleans is a popular destination on Independence Day weekend. Illustrating this point is the fact that we could only find one hotel in the entire city with an available room. Granted, booking a week in advance lessens your chances of finding accommodation, but no less... one hotel? Also, it was a 30 minute drive from downtown so its not like it was conveniently located. I'm not complaining and I don't think mom would either. It was clean, cheap and we had our fun in the city.


MINDY'S

Our surrogate mother, Mindy, invited everyone over to her house for a big shindig on Friday night. Said shindig was to attended by Mindy's immediate family (4 of them), extended family (9 of them), Camp Adventure family (5 of us - my two coworkers, Ohio friend, my mom and me). It takes a true host to tack on five extra guests at the last minute but for reasons unknown to me, Mindy did it. This made for a very merry bunch of sweet-tea drinking, rice-and-beans eating, loud conversation-having guests packed in Mindy's home. By fitting so many people into such a small space, making new friends was inevitable. I met all five of Mindy's nieces and nephews in attendance as well as their parents. Heck, I think I met just about everyone. Mom was late to the show because of a directional mix-up which took her (and her rental car) 50 miles northwest of the city. Once she got there though, she made up for lost time. As I've gotten older, I've become more aware of social situations. Instead of approaching them from the perspective of "how should I behave here?", I have added in the nuance of wondering "how do other people feel about this situation?". When I'm talking with someone, am I coming off as an idiot or as genuine? Is the other person getting a conflicting message from my posture/gestures than from what I am saying? Is the topic I am speaking of interesting to the other person? Do I have food on my shirt? In my teeth? It may sound like I am being self-conscious but I am fascinated to think what is going on in someone else's mind. This is what I was preoccupied with as I walked to the front door with mom. In my mind, I knew there were 17 people inside that I had already met. I even knew a few of them quite well. Mom, however, hadn't met a single soul in the house. I know if I were in her shoes, I would be reluctant to stay very long. My concerns didn't have time to turn into formulating solutions for awkward social situations because mom rushed in with the force of Hurricane Alex and began introducing herself, shaking hands, smiling and being generally sociable. The woman should run for president.

Dinner was great, as usual and the little kids liked me enough to part with about a half-dozen of their prized Silly Bandz on my behalf. If you don't know what these are, Google them. Or just imagine the Pokemon craze in the form of rubber band bracelets. We said our goodbyes, especially to Mindy and her family who would be leaving for a week long vacation. We're watching their house while they're gone. Mom drove us back to the hotel to get our overnight stuff and we all piled in the rental car. Mom and I dropped the crew off downtown so they could hit up the casino and the two of us found our way to the freeway and then back to the hotel for the night. I ate some reheated Popeye's chicken I had picked up at the center earlier that day and instantly, the words of one of the ladies I work with rang in my head: "Oh yes! Take some chicken home! Its great anytime of day... I've even had it in the morning and it works wonders as a pick-me-up!" There I was, at 1 am, reeling and rolling on the bed, cursing the congealed mass of fat that lay heavy in the pit of my stomach. Pick-me-up, my ass.


SATURDAY

Mom and I woke early on Saturday to head downtown and watch the Germany-Argentina game. We parked near the WWII museum and walked to Canal Street and back to the Checkered Parrot where I had gone with Sarah Mary last weekend. Again, we had the buffet, and it wasn't long before Germany had scored their first goal. For the entire game, mom and I talked soccer, reminisced about Germany in 2006 and drank coffee. We were the loudest fans in the place which isn't saying much seeing as we made up two-thirds of the soccer fan contingent.

Afterwards, we walked in the direction of the car and visited the WWII museum. I could write about the place for longer than you would care to read so I will spare you the details and say the European Theatre portion is great, the Pacific Theatre portion is even better and the special 4D show in the Victory Theatre is the best. Having spent several hours in the place, it became clear that this is NOT a good field trip for kids. This is problematic seeing as it is on our schedule of field trips. That list may need to be reworked.

Following the museum, we dropped off our swag from the gift shop in the car, mom almost got run over and we walked back in the direction of Canal Street to catch the St. Charles Streetcar for mass. We did and a few minutes later, we were on the campus of Tulane University at a cathedral mom had seen the previous day while touring the Garden District. Despite (or perhaps, because of) the mass being in a beautifully adorned cathedral, my mind wandered. I find it ironic that the priest of one of the richest parishes in New Orleans can be equally as bland as one who presides over a humble congregation numbering below 100 on a small military base. Father Billy, however, with his midsized church in Belle Chasse could command your attention while reading from the phonebook.

After mass, we toured campus. I took pictures and enthusiastically liberated Mardi Gras beads from the lower-reaching limbs of trees. Once we'd seen enough, we caught the trolley back towards Canal Street and walked a few more blocks to the Hilton by the river and to Drago's. En route, I heard someone behind me say, "Good job today!" Even though I couldn't see them, I knew they were talking to me. Pretty soon, the voice was at my side and a shrimpy guy in glasses was bustling to keep pace with mom and I. One's first reaction to a stranger striking up conversation with you whilst walking is that they are crazy. Its too bad that this is the case, but it is nonetheless. Turns out, my new friend was simply commenting on the fact that I was wearing a Germany jersey and he was referencing the game from earlier that day. We talked soccer for a while and he updated me on the game between Uruguay and Ghana. I thanked him and he turned the corner and was gone in a second.

Dinner was good, again. I got a lobster for cheap and entertained myself by savagely cracking it open and scooping out its insides. Apologies to my vegetarian readers. I think I have become more savage in my eating habits of late.

For dessert, mom and I braved the mass of people wandering the streets of downtown. Essence Fest brought an influx of people, most of them drunk thus very loud. In the French Quarter, we got some beniegts at Cafe du Monde and ate them while sitting on a fountain and watching the world go by. Once finished, mom got dad a gift at a local cigar factory and then we faced a long march back to the car. I didn't realize how tired I was until we got to the car. Our last errand - a grocery run - turned out to be impossible as Wal Mart was closing as we arrived. This was a blessing. I don't think I would have made it.

Mom dropped me off at base and we said goodbye. Six more weeks and then I'll be back in Longview. Just two weeks ago, I would have been hard-pressed to contain excitement at the prospect of going home. New Orleans has grown on me though. I could never live here permanently but it is impossible not to enjoy the people and new opportunities.