Soar-Dream-France

Place and People

Home and regrouping from a chock full trip, I am reminded once more of the extremes of my life. I love both. Blending them can be difficult. It seems that here is full of place and New Orleans and St. Louis are full of people. My photos tell the story in a way that always smacks me in the face upon return. It's just my life. I am rich in love, family, friendship and experiences. I wouldn't trade this beautiful tapestry for a million and look forward to the more that lies ahead.

Breakfast Time

Hanging out across the street with Michel and André comes with my own contingent of 4-legged nieces and nephews. "Aunt Laury" has Buster, Claude and Molly to keep me company when the guys are off to work. Our outside guy was waiting at this door when I came over this morning. Isn't that an "I'm ready for my breakfast, and you're late" look if you ever saw one. He has obviously gotten used to the work schedule when everyone is up and out early! It didn't take much...André was out with breakfast as soon as I let him know their guy was waiting. No name yet, but you never know! Happy Sunday-I'm on my way tomorrow morning so I'll be enroute...be back when I'm back in France!

Flaming Memories-Spiro's Greek Restaurant

Somewhere between college and graduate school, and then again for a short period after graduate school; I was a waitress at Spiro's Greek Restaurant on Natural Bridge in St. Louis. Two of the skills that I learned there that I'm still very proud of today are tossing and serving the best Greek Salad in the world with one hand and flaming the Saganaki at the table without burning down the place. I always try to go back and get my fix of my favorites, see old friends and hug Spiro and Barbara if they're there. So when Fran Reed-Bauer, a friend from grade school, junior high and high school came in to see me: I knew we had to go to Spiro's.  We had fun, flames, friends, salad and big hugs for Spiro and Barbara. I'm already looking forward to the next visit! Happy Friday!

My Guys-St.Louis

Whenever I'm in the states, I realize what an incredible pack of friends I have here. No matter where I go, I have friends who love me, support me, find work for me, and make living this life I lead easier at all levels. It works. Back at Michel and André's across the street from my folks, Buster is supervising again. There's a nice red, corkscrew and wine glass waiting for me on the counter...with a back up red just in case, and a note that there is St. André cheese waiting for me in the frige. Wine and weeds don't quite go together, but I sure like feeling like a Queen! And, I do! Huge Merci to Michel, André, Buster, the rest of their gang, and my wonderful pack of friends and family all over the states!

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!

A Launching and Landing Pad

Leaving home on May 3, I caught the midnight train to Paris for the first time in a long time. The last bus from Cadrieu put me into the Cahors SNCF Gare around 8pm as the sun was beginning to go down. I had a lot of time to wait, so in addition to reading and snacking, I wandered a little. I always say that Cahors feels like my launching pad to my life in the states. I left Cadrieu at 7pm on Thursday evening France time and arrived in New Orleans 8:30pm our time...32 hours of traveling. I'm not sure why Cahors feels like a launching pad, but I think it might be because Cahors is that "in-between"-that place between a very rural, pastoral, silent, peaceful life in the country and the very busy, loud, populated, life in New Orleans. It gives me a transition place between two extremes. Once I hit Cahors, I'm either gearing up or gearing down. The train is shooting me to Paris, Metro, and flight to the states. Coming home from Cahors, the bus is like a time travel machine. It follows the Lot River through tunnels, over railroad tracks, beside huge limestone cliffs, past medieval cliff-clinging villages, and farms to home. Cahors-my launching and landing pad!

Louie-aka-Mr. Whiskers

Our Louie boy has turned into quite a little guy...wiry, long legs, full of energy, and even MORE whiskers since my last visit. Everything he does, he does with gusto and a zest for life and living that is incredible! He has me laughing all the time. Put him in there with Steward and Eric and you have quite a trio. I'm sure he'll be a little man by my next visit...maybe a little more settled in both the energy and the whiskers department. But then, who knows...some of us just stay puppies our whole lives. Off to two pretty solid days of work. When I get tired all I'll have to do is channel our Louie boy and I'll be revved up and ready to go again!

Lunching in the Sculpture Garden

It doesn't seem to matter one bit how much my life has changed, I continue to be a creature of habit. My friend Barbara and I began having lunch in the Sculpture Garden in City Park on my visits. I love it. We continued the tradition yesterday when she came over from work to meet me there. We've been able to squeeze in a little more time than usual, so it's been fun for me. We found someone to take our picture and ran into our friend Pam who is a Director for all Seasons. We laughed together as she came around the corner with the blower! One of the wonderful things about living in New Orleans is that you are always running into people you know. And maybe the next most wonderful thing is all the hugs and kisses that follow! It's a treat!

Lucille and Me

Every time I come back to New Orleans, I stop in at the Monteleone Hotel to see if Lucille is working. The last couple visits my timing was off, and once the whole place was closed for renovation. Running from City Hall down to the Whitney in the Quarter on Monday,  I stopped in and found her. I really couldn't stay but promised to come back on Tuesday morning and have coffee at her table like I used to do. When my friend Keith lived in New Orleans, we spent almost every Friday morning at the Monteleone at Lucille's table having coffee. It felt like we had a head start on the weekend. We love Lucille. Keith is in Lafayette now and I'm in France, but we all still try to get together when we're in town.

Lucille and I had so much fun. I sat and did what I always do on my own there, drink my coffee, write in my journal and shoot a few shots. We of course traded storm stories-everyone has them. I sat and watched Lucille do what she does...a true professional. I thought about how both of our lives had changed, but isn't it wonderful that she can still be a part of mine. I had this overwhelming sense of: such a wonderful life you had here, but then you would have a wonderful life wherever you are. I shared those feelings with Lucille and we agreed. We are moving on. We're facing the change. And, even though we may not get to see each other every week like we used to do...we'll be happy to see each other when we can and enjoy it just as much, because we are always in each other's hearts. Love to Lucille-Always

Out My Window and Up Close

One of the nice surprises waiting for me on Columbus Street when I arrived was a beautiful yard in flower. What a treat! This particular trumpet had been beautifully shaped, but still had some bottom growth. I decided to cut off the bottoms and root and plant them in a few strategic spots while I'm here. There's a lot of activity on the house at the moment-leasing interest, buying interest, and me in here...reconnecting and communing in a way that I've been able to do with the Chatette. When my accommodations for the earlier part of the stay fell through, a part of me felt it was a sign that I stay here on Columbus Street, that it was important. It has been, but that's a story for another time. Happy Tuesday!