Traveling

The 'rents were snowbirds for over 25 years, leaving the North for Fort Myers come October, then coming back up for Christmas for 2 weeks, going back South till Memorial Day.  Dad misses that, I know, especially with this wonderful winter wonderland we've experienced this year!

So for the past 3 months, he talked about taking a trip South.  At first, he wanted to drive down.  He couldn't find anyone to hang out with him for 3 to 4 weeks so that sort of fizzled out.  Then he thought he would fly and rent a car.  Well, that sounded pretty good.  So he expanded on that idea.  

"I haven't seen Casey in 3 years [2 and a 1/2] so I want to drive there first, then I'll go to Wendy's in Jacksonville, then to Fort Myers."

"Well, Dad, where are you going to stay in New Orleans?  That's a lot of driving - 2 to 3 days to New Orleans, you know."

"I'm not that old, I can do that.  I'm only 80."

"Why don't you fly into New Orleans then?"

So that became part of the plan.  He still couldn't get anyone to go with him.  So, after telling him I would go if he covered my expenses, that became part of the plan.  

The new plan was to fly into NOLA, get the rental, he would stay at a hotel, and I would stay with our Casey (as I usually do).  Then I would drive him to Jacksonville, and fly home.  He truly can do the 5 hours (for him, it IS 5 hours) drive to North Fort Myers, where he used to live with Mom, no worries.

So we set off on our Father-Daughter-Granddaughter adventure.

No, I did not sit with him on the plane.  Our flight left at 6:45 a.m.  He wanted an aisle seat so I grabbed a window seat further back.  I figured he would be fine on this leg, and he was (and I got to see the Appalachians - never been clear enough on previous flights!).

All went well, and I went to Baggage Claim to get our bags, leaving him closer to the rental pick up.  As I am walking back with our bags, I see him chatting with someone.  It is the shuttle to the hotels' driver!  Dad had asked him all sorts of questions and introduced me to the guy as if he were Dad's long lost brother!  So it began...

The questions also began - first, "Was this under water?" was asked every time we entered a different part of the city on our way to Casey's (in the Treme, near Esplanade).  This question was asked at least 3,243 times while we were there, and even as we left the city on Saturday to drive to Florida.

Casey, of course, was really happy to see her Poppie and actually hugged him!  He was thrilled to see her as well, even her twin black kittens who immediately loved him (he is soo not a cat person).  We hung out there, waiting for our lunch date at Muriel's in Jackson Square (where Casey works). 

It was a pretty overcast, rainy and cold day (for NOLA - not compared to us!), but Dad didn't care.  As we parked in a lot in the Quarter, he hustled out of the car to talk to the person at the Gray Line booth about taking tours, boat and bus.  Another long lost relative was found!

Lunch was just the best.  Casey is obviously liked there, as we were waited on with no less than the best of service.  The food, well, Creole at its best.  Dad was even talked into eating Gumbo!  As fussy as he is, he did have some sense of adventure brewing.  He did order the pork chop, and scraped the meat off the bone like he never ate a pork chop before!  After 4 courses (for LUNCH!), we were stuffed, but the chef sent out a Bread Pudding with praline sauce that could NOT be left behind.  Dad even tried a bit of that.  Oh, and the manager?  Another long lost relative.

More later...

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