Soar-Dream-France

Sharing a Slider or Two

 

White Castle has never been on my list of "must" eats when I'm back in the states, but the rest of my siblings love it and always make a special point to go and have a "slider" or two when they are in St. Louis. Although I initially resisted White Castle and shopping with Jim, Joan and Kat; I had a change of heart and found myself sharing a 2 double cheese burger slider meal with Joan. Splitting it was definitely a good decision-we each got one and shared the fries.

But, it was about family and not the food. We had a good time all the way around. Jim and Joan had come in from Kansas City to see me. That means a lot to me because it's difficult for me to get very far afield from St. Louis or New Orleans when I come to visit. I particularly love this shot of Jim under the poster with the millions of tiny White Castles on the walls. Thanks to Jim, Joan and Kat for making White Castle memories with me!

Celebrating Mom

As this trip was being planned, getting to St.Louis to spend Mother's Day with Mom was on the top of my list. It was doable, but meant a 4am Sunday morning rental car gas up and return to catch the 6am flight to Dallas and then on to St.Louis to arrive at noon. Kat, Tom, Dad and I celebrated Mom well on Sunday...BarBQ, tasty sweet treats, flowers and cards from all over. Since Mom spends most of her time taking care of my Dad, she rarely gets dressed up. Mother's Day was her day and she decided it was going to be different...she got out this beautiful yellow dress with her pearls and she was just beautiful. It brought a smile to my face, and we had fun. So one more Happy Mother's Day to Mom...we've moved on to picking grass out of the cracks in the bricks in the drive, but then she's always been a Mom for all seasons!

Wrapped in Nannie's Love

One of the side-effects to this weather we've been having, is a cold Chatette once more. Working upstairs one day, I broke into my winter clothes again to get a turtle neck sweater. Just as I was ready to pull it out, that 100% wool, button up, navy blue ribbed sweater that had been Nannie's screamed: "Wear me, wear me!" How could I not?

That day became Nannie's day, and she's been close by ever since. It isn't just because I've been wearing her sweater every day. I already live with her diamond studded gold wedding band on my right hand. I have: the apron she used to wear at Thanksgiving tied to one of my ladders; lace table cloths; her deer floral arrangement center-piece, and the Madam Alexander Russian Doll that she gave me when I began to take Russian in college.

It isn't even about the stuff. I admit, seeing it makes me think of her. It's in the feeling her, in the paying attention to her presence and a boundaryless communion that we share. When I told her about the premonition I had about Papa dying on the day that he died, she could have said a lot of things. (At 16, I was more than a little worried that I might be crazy.) Instead, she said: "Sometimes when people really love you, they can communicate with you in unusual ways. Your Papa loved you so much that he wanted you to know it was time for him to go. He wanted to tell you goodby."  Nannie didn't shut me down. She encouraged me to pay attention to my feelings and feel that love even more. That special communication has continued throughout my life with many people that I have loved, lost and found again. Here. Home. I've found that the timelessness and boundarylessness of this place always wrap me in that love.

So coming up on Nannie's birthday, I celebrate her on-going love and the gift she gave me of learning to love more.

A Brother-in-Law for All Seasons and Reasons

Kathleen and I had decided long before this visit that we were going to have FUN...fun on International Overalls Day, fun on Thanksgiving, and just generally have quality time together. A number of things got in the way of our plan on many fronts, but her husband Tom manages to pick up the pieces as we go. Whether he's chic in his overalls, carving our Thanksgiving Turkey, picking me up at the airport, or hauling away thirty years of the shredables of my life in the back of his truck; Tom is the man! We are all lucky to have him in our lives. So, on this day after Thanksgiving-a HUGE MERCI to Tom for taking such good care of us...and we aren't the only ones!

A Morning in New Orleans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone was having fun in the Quarter on Friday morning. My weather karma has been in high gear while I've been here, so gettting out and about has been easy and comfortable.

The birds were having a blast in the fountain in front of St. Louis Cathedral when we passed...all fluffed up, splashing, and playing with each other.

The buggy drivers were all lined up on Decatur Street ready for the day and a big weekend. The mules that pull the wagons are favorites of mine. They are looking much happier and healthier than in the old days.

Tom and I headed over to the Moonwalk where we discovered a man arriving in a kayak who had come down the Mississippi River from Minnesota. Two and a half months later, his family and a bunch of us were on the Moonwalk to welcome him to New Orleans. His wife, kids, friends, locals, and tourists gave up a cheer. I want to know where the media was when something as wonderful as this could have been captured?

Passing through Canal Place together I asked Tom what time it was, to be sure I called my friend on time to coordinate the rest of the afternoon. He pulls out his watch, lifts it up to me and says: "You'll have to look, since I don't have my glasses on." I replied: "I don't have my glasses on, I can't see it either!" We had a great laugh together.

On our way to the Music Factory, we found some beautiful doors and a passing lucky dog vendor. Inside, we found a favorite group of Kat's and many music memories. Their collection of New Orleans music and memorabilia was incredible. It was morning in New Orleans and we hadn't even scratched the surface! Happy Sunday everyone!

Brother/Sister Bonding in the French Quarter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the wonderful things about  having more time here this trip, is the opportunity to have one on one quality time with the people in my life who I may only get to see once a year. I can't remember the last time that my brother Tom and I shared a day like yesterday. We began at an old favorite...Croissant D'Or, played around in Jackson Square, hung out on the Moonwalk, stopped in at Canal Place, perused the Music Factory, wandered by his barber and then walked down Canal Street to Rampart on a hunt for the bus stop to get me home...all between 9 and noon! We shared a lot, we shot a lot, we caught up and just had fun. I'll share our photographic journey with you soon, but for today here's Croissant D'Or and Tom...always in my heart.

 

Missing New Orleans-Blue Cheese Bread

Kat's piece for the vernissage arrived in Saturday morning's mail. I cracked open the mailing package to find this beautiful box, with a centered/scalloped heart of Grandpa Bourgeois in his garden on Arabella Street, all tied up under the heart with bowed red satin. It was almost too pretty to open. Kat had outdone herself again. Inside, I discovered a garland of hearts with: antique postcards of New Orleans in black and white, photos of our Grandma and Grandpa Bourgeois in New Orleans, and hearts of words that "mean" New Orleans sprinkled betweeen "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?" I skimmed the words to see what I might find there and thought that she must have found some wrapping paper on one of her trips to New Orleans that she had used to make the worded hearts. WRONG! When I called to let her know it had arrived, I asked where she got the worded hearts. Each word is one of her memories. She had made them from scratch. 

Later that afternoon, I'd spread the garland on the table to look at it a little more closely. All of a sudden the words "Blue Cheese Bread" jumped out at me. Kat had come to visit me for a long weekend during the last spring before the storm in 2005. We'd gone to see John Eward of Crossing Over fame, ran around with Tom and Adrianne at the new Sculpture Garden in City Park, and later stopped in at a new French Patisserie located next to Whole Food on Esplanade. All of their breads there were incredible, but we chose a round loaf stuffed with blue cheese. We picked up a loaf along with some other sweet goodies for later. But, we couldn't wait. Sitting in the little park across from Café Degas, we huddled close and broke into the blue cheese bread. It was heaven and we were there... together!

 

 

 

 

A Santa and Snoopy Sunday

When I walked into the breakfast room this morning at the hotel, it was packed. I was so distracted by this unusual crowd of people, that I almost missed this piece of mail that was waiting for me on the desk. I knew it was from Kat, so I looked for the stamps and then saw the sweet Santa sticker. My letter opening isn't always the best, so I was very careful.  I wanted Santa to be in one piece so he could go in my journal.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered a whole sheet of Santa and Snoopy Stickers just for me!  Merci Kat...for my Santa and Snoopy Sunday Surprise!

All Souls Memories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine years ago this afternoon, Kathleen and Tom and I were wandering around the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris together.  We'd only arrived that morning, spending a few days in Paris on our way to Cahors so I could sign the intent to purchase on the Chatette.  I'd always known about All Saints Day, but I first learned that there even was an All Soul's Day that day from my brother-in-law, Tom.  We aren't a morbid bunch or anything, but we do like cemeteries...their beauty, history, stories, and really-they can be that jumping off spot to the heavens.  I wasn't one bit surprised when our tiny Cadrieu Cemetery became a favorite spot in the village for Kat and Tom.  So today, All Souls Day has rekindled some wonderful memories, and given me a very good excuse (not that I need one) to share our wonderful village cemetery with Kat and Tom from a distance. Kat says that every time she sees that huge ancient cedar tree, she knows she is "home in Cadrieu." And for me, I wish they could be here.

 

 

Celebrating Dad by Bus

While my siblings in the states are hard at work putting a special project together for our Dad's 80th Birthday, I can't be a lot of help from over here.  I've thrown a few memories their way, but then decided to do a little something of my own to send.  Two cards and a huge package of stuff that included this collage, are winging their way to the states as I write.  (Actually, Mom and Dad said that one had already arrived yesterday.)  This last one went out on Monday in Cahors...another effort to try to share this incredible place with my folks who are unable to make the trip here. 

I spend a lot of time on the bus that runs in front of the Chatette.  I'm realizing more and more how much my life centers around the bus.  It is a lifeline for me.  So here you have the line 910 of the Region Midi-Pyrenees-Voyages Laurens that runs between Cahors and Figeac regularly.  I've taken all the stops and lined them down the center of the second panel, with those stops where I've been off and taken photos sprinkled around the sides and throughout. This is the most beautiful bus route I have ever been on in my life.  As I looked at these panels, I was stunned by the beauty, grace, romance, history and magic of this place once more. I'm sure my Dad will enjoy his birthday journey, even though he knows just how much it would have meant to me to have been able to share it with him in person. Maybe you'll enjoy the ride too!