Wednesday, February 08, 2006
JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH....2004
Rocky had a lot of tests run by his doctor in January. There was no reason for the headaches. On the other hand, my blood pressure began rising which I’d never had problems with before. We sat down one day in February and decided the business wasn’t worth losing our health over. Rocky surprised me by saying we would wind it up March 1st.
He set about selling the vehicles and we got the books in order and sent everything required, to the company in St. Louis. I went with him in March for his MRI and it was hard because Rocky has claustrophobia and had a battle to even begin the process. The attendant came after me in the waiting room and thought I would be a steadying influence. We neither one had been around an MRI before and it was quite intimidating….. even to look at. The noise was terrible but we endured it until the test was finally over.
Becky had been looking forward to her 50th birthday and wanted to celebrate it with all of us in New Orleans and we didn’t want to spoil it for her. We wouldn’t know the results of the MRI until we came home from New Orleans. George drove down from Shawnee and joined the three of us to make the trip. When we got to John and Barb’s it was party time with a bang. The next day we were all going into New Orleans where they had a room rented with a balcony over Bourbon Street. The idea was to eat and shop……do all the usual and if we got tired we could retreat to the room, sit on the balcony and enjoy the sights and sounds. Once you’ve made the rounds, a place to sit back and relax is a good thing.
For those of you who don’t know Becky, she is the one to be with for a good time. Then when you get John with her……it’s almost scary. Where other folks end their celebrating, those two are just getting started. Rocky, George, Barb and I usually find a chair, get out of the way and watch them have fun. Somehow it telegraphs to the rest of us and we all have a good time. Once they get going there is no stopping.
By dark the streets began filling with left over Mardi Gras folks. Some friends of John and Barb’s rode the limo over with us and we were all on the balcony. It was fun to sling beads to the people below…. and everything you’ve ever heard about the tradition is true. When our party left the balcony and our room to join the merrymaking, Rocky and I stayed where we could sit and watch it all. They were going to leave us there all night and come back for us the next day for more shopping and sight seeing. It was sparing us the 45 minute ride back across the Causeway…when you’re old and tired….you’re tired.
I suppose it’s silly to try and sleep on Bourbon Street. The crowds and revelry continued until the wee hours in the morning……when we finally dozed off. New Orleans is a town like no other. It’s always party time in “the big easy.” I don’t know what it is but something there always calls me back. I think John loves it so the rest of us see it the way he does. His friends tell him he is more of a ‘local’ than they are……..he embraces everything the city has to offer.
John and Barb finished out Becky’s birthday at their lovely home. They have always had a houseful of boys in and out……later on, some girls…..and their friends come often. They open their hearts and home to anyone who comes. It is impossible to visit them and not have a good time.
I feel the same with George who is always ready for us to come and “do the town” like we used to do. With John we’re going to a foreign country……with George, we are going back home. With Becky and us in the middle, between the two boys, we make connections as often as we can.
Everyone was concerned about Rocky and hoping the best for him. We would know the results of the MRI once we were back home. That would be soon enough…….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
He set about selling the vehicles and we got the books in order and sent everything required, to the company in St. Louis. I went with him in March for his MRI and it was hard because Rocky has claustrophobia and had a battle to even begin the process. The attendant came after me in the waiting room and thought I would be a steadying influence. We neither one had been around an MRI before and it was quite intimidating….. even to look at. The noise was terrible but we endured it until the test was finally over.
Becky had been looking forward to her 50th birthday and wanted to celebrate it with all of us in New Orleans and we didn’t want to spoil it for her. We wouldn’t know the results of the MRI until we came home from New Orleans. George drove down from Shawnee and joined the three of us to make the trip. When we got to John and Barb’s it was party time with a bang. The next day we were all going into New Orleans where they had a room rented with a balcony over Bourbon Street. The idea was to eat and shop……do all the usual and if we got tired we could retreat to the room, sit on the balcony and enjoy the sights and sounds. Once you’ve made the rounds, a place to sit back and relax is a good thing.
For those of you who don’t know Becky, she is the one to be with for a good time. Then when you get John with her……it’s almost scary. Where other folks end their celebrating, those two are just getting started. Rocky, George, Barb and I usually find a chair, get out of the way and watch them have fun. Somehow it telegraphs to the rest of us and we all have a good time. Once they get going there is no stopping.
By dark the streets began filling with left over Mardi Gras folks. Some friends of John and Barb’s rode the limo over with us and we were all on the balcony. It was fun to sling beads to the people below…. and everything you’ve ever heard about the tradition is true. When our party left the balcony and our room to join the merrymaking, Rocky and I stayed where we could sit and watch it all. They were going to leave us there all night and come back for us the next day for more shopping and sight seeing. It was sparing us the 45 minute ride back across the Causeway…when you’re old and tired….you’re tired.
I suppose it’s silly to try and sleep on Bourbon Street. The crowds and revelry continued until the wee hours in the morning……when we finally dozed off. New Orleans is a town like no other. It’s always party time in “the big easy.” I don’t know what it is but something there always calls me back. I think John loves it so the rest of us see it the way he does. His friends tell him he is more of a ‘local’ than they are……..he embraces everything the city has to offer.
John and Barb finished out Becky’s birthday at their lovely home. They have always had a houseful of boys in and out……later on, some girls…..and their friends come often. They open their hearts and home to anyone who comes. It is impossible to visit them and not have a good time.
I feel the same with George who is always ready for us to come and “do the town” like we used to do. With John we’re going to a foreign country……with George, we are going back home. With Becky and us in the middle, between the two boys, we make connections as often as we can.
Everyone was concerned about Rocky and hoping the best for him. We would know the results of the MRI once we were back home. That would be soon enough…….
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
