I Found Her (From New Orleans) and Some Places Too

It is funny how we find our better half. Nancy and I found one another where we worked. I got the job through my sister who knew about the job through her boyfriend who…you know the whole 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon(ker) separation thing. Nancy and I spent time getting to know each other as most couples do. We talked at happy hours, went out here and there, dated more and more, and many years later here we are. I don’t use a specific number because we dated a few years, had a long engagement, and have been married almost 11 years.

Nancy is from New Orleans and that intrigued me at the time we met and began to talk more. More and more, I was running into New Orleans “familiars”. Eventually, after Nancy and I dated some, I got to go back to New Orleans. This was a trip to meet her family.

This trip was an important trip for me-meeting Nancy’s family plus after many years I was going back to the place that drew me. It was a wonderful trip. I loved meeting Nancy’s family and for the first time I got to see New Orleans for what it isn’t-the party city. It was on this trip that I got my first introduction to New “Orleanean” hospitality. I had no idea that hospitality was all over. I got to meet one wonderful person after another-from Nancy’s family, to her friends, to just people who say hi to you at the store or on the street. They say "hi" because they can and they like to. In Dallas, if you do that, you will likely get a cold (rude) stare and possibly some kind of obscene gesture or word thrown back at you-but not there and not back then.

In addition to the amazing family, friends, and people, Nancy introduced me to the places-the special places. Sure Pat O’s and Café Du Monde are great but there is so much more to discover. Mandinas, Port of Call, Ye Ole College Inn (pre-K), The Galley, Liuzza’s, Parasols, and the list goes on forever. To this day, there is still so much more to discover there. It’s just wild-the seafood (of course), the burgers, specialty sandwiches (po boys), even the pizza, are all just better there. I have been told it is because of the water, but it's likely because of the people behind it all.

Then there are the stores and shops. The French Quarter speaks for itself, as does Magazine Street, but you want a shopping trip?-Go to Dorignac’s. Here you can see older women in frocks and slippers smoking a cigarette while they peruse the aisles purchasing anything from turtle meat, merlaton, to hard liquor (yes they sell hard liquor in grocery stores), to oyster soup, to Doberge cakes. Try Gambino’s for baked goods, Gordon’s for all kinds of home items, Rue De La Course for a coffee experience (a plug there for you Jerry). Again, the list can and does go on forever.

This is not only about my wife and New Orleans places. This is about family and friends-the special people who make up our lives. New Orleans is full good people just as Dallas is. It is also full of family-run establishments and that is truly unique in this nation of cookie cutter chain businesses. Families put their hearts, their talents, and their roots into their businesses. Add that to the New Orleans energy and that is just the beginning of what makes New Orleans, well, New Orleans. That trip taught me a whole lot more about what New Orleans is truly about.