Back From the Bayou

We have returned from our week-long adventure in the deep south.  We visited parts of Louisiana, including New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama, and the western section of the Florida Panhandle.  All areas and cities were new to us.  We managed to get to four new state highpoints, two major prehistoric mound sites, and several new cities.  We finished up yesterday at the New Orleans Museum of Art, before flying home.  The major report of this trip will be posted eventually in the Road Trips blog (link at left).  We flew Delta Airlines from Detroit to New Orleans.  The flights were quite short (about 2 hours each way), and both airports were very modern and easy to navigate.  We rented a vehicle from Budget (it was very expensive), and left on a grand road trip.

 

On Wednesday, the second day of the trip and our first of the long drive, we received news that my dad was taken back to ER.  He lasted till Sunday, when we were back in New Orleans.  He passed away in the hospital in his sleep with mom by his side.  We were due to go up for a long visit after our trip; dad was eager to hear about New Orleans.  He was well travelled, having worked many years as a travel agent.  He'd been to Tahiti, Hawaii, France, Turkey, Greece, Spain, England, and many other places.  He loved travel.  He began his working life in a grocery store, working his way up to produce manager of three linked Sudbury stores.  Mid-life he switched to the travel agent job, when his brother-in-law offered him a job.  He grabbed it and never regretted it.  Dad was 92.  More to come.

 

A picture from summer of 2023, when I performed a concert program for mom and dad at the home of my Sudbury piano teacher, John Hannah.  John had recently passed away, and we were hosted by his musician/singer wife, Marion. 

 

Mapman Mike