Hello, Old Friend

On Friday I drove from Clarksdale, MS to New Orleans, LA. I didn't arrive until after dinner and was exhausted. Additionally, Thursday took a lot out of me... Sun Studios in Memphis, burger heaven and Graceland Too! in Holly Springs, MS, then a night of rum and cokes in Clarksdale. Still I mustered the energy to hit Bourbon St. It had been many years since I set foot in New Orleans. Back in the 90's I was a regular at the Jazz And Heritage Festival. It just didn't seem right that my first night back in The Big Easy be spent in a hotel room. I decided to hit an old haunt... the Acme Oyster House. There was a line when I arrived. I stood patiently and chatted briefly with a lovely couple from Baton Rouge. The line wasn't particularly long but the guy from Baton Rouge grew impatient and slipped the host a twenty dollar bill for a quick seating. He got what he wanted. About ninety seconds later the host had a seat for me... right next to them at the bar! Cost to me... a nod and a smile. We sat there and had a good laugh at their folly.

After my heartwarming reunion with raw oysters and Dixie Beer I took a casual stroll down Bourbon St. It was much as I remembered... It teemed with drunken merriment. Music of all sorts poured out on to the streets from all the clubs. I would stand out front of one, listen for a bit, then move on. I did this for an hour or so until rest beckoned. I went back to the hotel and slept like a baby...