Monday, November 01, 2004
NEW ORLEANS IN MAY....1982
Warren and I drove to New Orleans the 21st of May for John’s graduation from Seminary. He was to receive his Master’s degree. It was a pleasant few days…we went to River Bend for dinner the night we arrived and afterwards went to a reception at President Leavell’s mansion. We met some of John’s friends that had been guest’s in our home as well as some we had only heard about. John’s friends were always unique, well educated and witty. A few were willing “straight men” for him. Barbara was always entertained by him.
Barbara was a true Southern lady. She was refined and smart….her appearance was always perfectly groomed and her small frame was delicate and graceful. Her manners were above reproach and it was her pleasure to make you feel comfortable. She was what every mother dreams her son will want to marry. I loved her soft Southern way of speaking……and her gentle spirit. I just loved Barbara. Period.
With John’s suggestion we went to the Chapel early as the seating would be inadequate for the number of people attending. We saved a seat for Barbara….she and John had gone to an early breakfast together. I don’t need to attempt a description of the pride I felt when I spied John walking in with the rest of the graduates. He had overcome so much and achieved so much with so little. He had worked with a friend and fellow classmate as grounds keeper at the Seminary as well as working on Saturdays manicuring lawns at some of the large homes.
He told of working at one of the mansions where the owners were young with a young family. He was big in the oil business and his home, cars, wife’s doorknob ring etc; were symbols of his wealth. When the big crunch came…….he lost it all. John was sad for them because it’s a lot harder to have it and lose it than to never have it at all. A good thing to remember is it’s a lot harder going up than it is coming down. John learned a lot about lawn care and floral plantings and still enjoys working in his yard at planting time. I can just imagine he has mums out now with a few other things to spruce up the yard.
The program was challenging and the last inspired speech the graduates would hear at the Seminary. Afterwards, we met with friends of John and Barbara’s and went to the French Quarter to eat and enjoy the sights. Barbara had to leave after lunch to go home to Vicksburg. The “Quarter” has so much to offer, it’s hard to take it all in. John ushered us around a potpourri of sights, sounds and tastes. We walked, ate, shopped and visited till we were too tired to take another step. We had a wonderful and full day…………
When morning came, John arrived at our guest house early to go to breakfast at a neat place called, The Magnolia Grille. If you like the old 50’s grille’s you would love this. A long counter with stools…all in black and white. The cooks and manager were all in white. The flare with which the waiters took and called your menu choice to the cooks was something to behold. Watching them cook your breakfast while you sat on a stool sipping hot coffee was beauty in motion. It remains one of my favorite places in New Orleans to this day. What did we order? I took John’s choice….a chili cheese omelet….Warren took the safer route….a ham and cheese omelet. After that, John took us to the church where he and a lot of the Seminary students attended, St. Charles Baptist Church. It was built in the old Southern style and still elegant among the huge live oak trees and residences up and down the street.
John took Warren and me to Dr. Roger’s class for Sunday School….a professor at the Seminary…..and I believe the message was also from one of their professors. We had coffee in between the services which was nice. Afterwards we went back to the French Quarter for our last time as we would be leaving in the morning. Café du Monde for beignets are a “must” as you sit in an open air dining area, watching the parade of humanity pass by. I think it is George’s favorite thing about going to the French Quarter. He will eat beignets on top of a meal if he has to….just can’t leave without downing a few…..but then…it is a custom for all of us.
Have to have!! Aunt Sally’s Pralines…lunch at Mesparo’s… Farmer’s Market where you can buy anything you can think up….the jewelry shops…feasting your eyes on Jackson Square and hearing the calliope and big horn of the Natchez Queen as she pulls away from the dock……..the sidewalk vendors, the boys tap dancing or the musicians playing as you walk up and down the streets……um-ummmm. I hear it all calling me back….listen….do you hear that? I’m gone…………….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
Barbara was a true Southern lady. She was refined and smart….her appearance was always perfectly groomed and her small frame was delicate and graceful. Her manners were above reproach and it was her pleasure to make you feel comfortable. She was what every mother dreams her son will want to marry. I loved her soft Southern way of speaking……and her gentle spirit. I just loved Barbara. Period.
With John’s suggestion we went to the Chapel early as the seating would be inadequate for the number of people attending. We saved a seat for Barbara….she and John had gone to an early breakfast together. I don’t need to attempt a description of the pride I felt when I spied John walking in with the rest of the graduates. He had overcome so much and achieved so much with so little. He had worked with a friend and fellow classmate as grounds keeper at the Seminary as well as working on Saturdays manicuring lawns at some of the large homes.
He told of working at one of the mansions where the owners were young with a young family. He was big in the oil business and his home, cars, wife’s doorknob ring etc; were symbols of his wealth. When the big crunch came…….he lost it all. John was sad for them because it’s a lot harder to have it and lose it than to never have it at all. A good thing to remember is it’s a lot harder going up than it is coming down. John learned a lot about lawn care and floral plantings and still enjoys working in his yard at planting time. I can just imagine he has mums out now with a few other things to spruce up the yard.
The program was challenging and the last inspired speech the graduates would hear at the Seminary. Afterwards, we met with friends of John and Barbara’s and went to the French Quarter to eat and enjoy the sights. Barbara had to leave after lunch to go home to Vicksburg. The “Quarter” has so much to offer, it’s hard to take it all in. John ushered us around a potpourri of sights, sounds and tastes. We walked, ate, shopped and visited till we were too tired to take another step. We had a wonderful and full day…………
When morning came, John arrived at our guest house early to go to breakfast at a neat place called, The Magnolia Grille. If you like the old 50’s grille’s you would love this. A long counter with stools…all in black and white. The cooks and manager were all in white. The flare with which the waiters took and called your menu choice to the cooks was something to behold. Watching them cook your breakfast while you sat on a stool sipping hot coffee was beauty in motion. It remains one of my favorite places in New Orleans to this day. What did we order? I took John’s choice….a chili cheese omelet….Warren took the safer route….a ham and cheese omelet. After that, John took us to the church where he and a lot of the Seminary students attended, St. Charles Baptist Church. It was built in the old Southern style and still elegant among the huge live oak trees and residences up and down the street.
John took Warren and me to Dr. Roger’s class for Sunday School….a professor at the Seminary…..and I believe the message was also from one of their professors. We had coffee in between the services which was nice. Afterwards we went back to the French Quarter for our last time as we would be leaving in the morning. Café du Monde for beignets are a “must” as you sit in an open air dining area, watching the parade of humanity pass by. I think it is George’s favorite thing about going to the French Quarter. He will eat beignets on top of a meal if he has to….just can’t leave without downing a few…..but then…it is a custom for all of us.
Have to have!! Aunt Sally’s Pralines…lunch at Mesparo’s… Farmer’s Market where you can buy anything you can think up….the jewelry shops…feasting your eyes on Jackson Square and hearing the calliope and big horn of the Natchez Queen as she pulls away from the dock……..the sidewalk vendors, the boys tap dancing or the musicians playing as you walk up and down the streets……um-ummmm. I hear it all calling me back….listen….do you hear that? I’m gone…………….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
