Report on Return from NOLA

Since we planned the trip, Cindy AND Dennis appeared. Note sent to friend upon our return:

We went to a Saturday Mass in New Orleans, and left early Sunday (7/10) to try and stay ahead of the outer wind bands from Dennis. We hit rain before we got out of Louisiana (headed north, not back across the gulf like we usually go) and drove in the rain all the way to North Augusta. The worst wind and rain were outer Birmingham to east of Atlanta--the car was streaked with evidence of wind-driven dirty water that hit at high speeds. I'm not sure I want to drive across the top of a hurricane again.

The trip itself was wonderful, if too short. We spent lots of time watching the all-panic, all-the-time channels as the Mayor and Parish Councils (sounds odd to say that) discussed whether or not to evacuate. In the end, we left and those that stayed had great weather.

When the talk wasn't of hurricanes, we talked about books & faith & the future; we sang sand read; we strolled to restaurants and bookstores; we played in the pool with the kids who, as most children do, found Uncle Izzy to be a great climbing toy. His cannonball dives are also pretty impressive!

Cannot wait to get to go back. For once, we actually went to NOLA and didn't even bother with the Quarter. We've become the "untourists."