New (and Old) Orleans Memories

I don't have too many memories of mom, since I was 9 when she got sick and 10 when she died.  I have a terrible memory anyway (thank goodness for the sisters and some of my oldest friends, since '84, Aimee, Ash,  Sara B) - half of what I remember are more shared stories than my own.  One memory that is quasi vivid (and mine alone) is our trip to New Orleans for Easter 1986. Yep, that was my last trip to NOLA, which may or may not count since I was under 21 years of age.

I certainly remember the hot chocolate and yummy beignets of Cafe du Monde, Jackson square's large Catholic church and its "street artists", riding the trolley, the converted JAX brewery indoor mall, going to Audubon zoo.   

Of course, a key memory was the Esprit outlet.  It was a big deal in the brand's 1980's heyday, with the very high price to clothe 3 girls (the 4th, Amy in high school, knew better). My dad just told me that it was a key factor in planning the NOLA trip  (1 of 4 worldwide outlet locations at the time).  Check out Katie's orange film outfit above - classic Esprit fashion.

I also vaguely remember walking down Bourbon Street in the daylight, with dad shielding eyes from the scantily clad women in the doorways of the gentleman establishments.  To the right is a pic of my boys walking down the street, posing in front of Larry Flynt's Little Darlings club.  I saw way too many women sporting thongs and the like, and they truly needed much more supportive undergarments and garments in general.

Another vivid memory was our drive from Memphis. We stopped at the beach in Biloxi (smelly - paper mills or something yuck?). In typical younger Schwie girl style (3 = 2 against 1), Katie and I harassed Sara about the shark and other nefarious possibilities on the almost 24 mile, never ending L O N G bridge over Lake Pontchartrain.

Good trip, good time, good memories...both new and old.