I remember, when I was growing up, knowing old people who saved EVERYTHING. One uncle had a giant ball of foil, probably the wrapper from every stick of gum he had ever chewed. Someone else made a ball of rubber bands. Stacks of shoe boxes. Closets full of cottage cheese cartons. The explanation often was that after living through the Depression they would always anticipate scarcity. My grandmother died wearing an old nightgown, with drawers full of fancy lingerie she was saving in case she ever needed them.
I don’t have the excuse of living through the Depression. And I don’t anticipate scarcity. I don’t hoard (too much) useless stuff. I use the pretty glasses and I wear my best clothes. But I hate to waste anything.
Thats’ why we’re going to New Orleans next week. I couldn’t waste my Delta companion ticket by letting it expire! So we’ll arrive Friday morning at Louis Armstrong airport, pick up a car, and make our first stop at Cochon for an oyster and bacon sandwich, always my first meal (and often my last as well) when I visit the Big Easy.
Then we’ll travel upriver for two nights to visit a friend in Baton Rouge, my first time there. I’ve been promised boudin balls and mini crawfish pies on the edge of Cajun country, offset by grilled fish dinners and other somewhat lighter fare.
Back to NOLA on Sunday. We are planning to (over)fill two days with eating, drinking, music, golf (for John) and shopping (for me). A quick visit, but we’ll hit the highlights. There will be surprises; there are always surprises in New Orleans. I can’t wait!
“there was something about
that city, though
it didn’t let me feel guilty
that I had no feeling for the
things so many others
needed. it let me alone.”
― Charles Bukowski