. . . she rested.
Nothing to do today but write, run an errand or two. And I’m going to celebrate by having a burger tonight at a new local place I’ve yet to try.
Leg 2 starts tomorrow, but it’s a short one, only three days in one place, New Orleans. I know, I know — it’s a hardship.
This year, New Orleans had its highest Mardi Gras attendance post-storm and there are other positive signs. This will be my fifth or sixth visit since the storm and I’ve seen progress every time.
As for traveling — I may be a homebody, but I appreciate the fact that this has made me a very savvy traveler. When I was stranded in Guatemala City, the one thing I didn’t feel was panicky. Disappointed, inconvenienced, frustrated? Sure. But it was amusing to me to watch various people troop up and down the aisle of the stalled plane, each one intent on explaining to the flight attendants that they had VERY IMPORTANT appointments in their destinations.
Ah, yes, Laura. One quote that does often come to mind (and I am going by memory here) is “Strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from G*d.” which comes from Kurt Vonnegut. So I take the broad view of that thought and whether stranded on an airplane or caught in a black-out or, on the flip side of unexpected things, having a very kind stranger (a Yorkshire woman of a certain age) insist on walking me herself from the train station to the bus station after I asked for directions to the Bronte Parsonage bus, I try and roll with whatever comes my way while traveling. Amazing things can come of it. People watching is a rewarding hobby.
–Marjorie
I spend 90 plus nights a year in a hotel (the Hilton Family is my other Family)and, while I miss my charming bride and wonderful son and two adorable rescue dogs, I really like it. I don’t mind the time alone as it allows me to read the work of great writers, like Laura.
And, since I am generally out one or two nights a week, it is easier to manage than traveling 1 to 3 weeks in a row. So every week I get to go home and see whats her name and her kid.
Go to John Besh’s AUGUST in NO.
I love AUGUST, but hope to try some new places. (STELLA, for example.) (New to me, not new to NO.)
I already know I’ll be eating breakfast at CC’s, which has introduced a terrific, lower calorie version of the yogurt parfait served at Starbucks.
You know, I really do think it would be a HUGE hardship!
I am almost 100% certain that I would not want to trade careers with you. I love to travel, but NOT as relentlessly as you do; and being a high profile writer (or a high profile ANYTHING) for a living means no days off; at any moment you might be recognized and therefore put “on duty” – much like when a doctor’s pager goes off – only without actually getting to bill anyone!
But all that cross training and conditioning is for a reason, eh?
New Orleans. Whimper. i know it’s not what it was but it’s still New Orleans. Eat well, enjoy, tell us all about the Festival, where you stayed, what was cool, okay?