I could tell you about the wonders of my day, but I want to share instead the images I’m left with, as everyone trickles off to bed. They’re images I plan to savor for quite a while.

  • One whole section of ruin and wreckage, right beside perfectly fine and rebuilt strip malls and homes
  • A small hand in mine, and admiring eyes looking up to me throughout the whole day, making me long for the face of Uncle Bob to share it with
  • The taste of fine seafood, the sound of cajun tunes, the sight of small feet dancing
  • The giggles of an aunt who hasn’t had many auntly moments with her mingled with squeals of delight from my daughter as they “jumpy-jump” together
  • Laying on a hammock, seeing the sun on the grass, feeling the breeze on my ankles, knowing it’s snowing at home (which would be the topic for a “Triple Huh?!??!” posting, oh my!)
  • Long in-person talks with someone I usually only chat with only online
  • The door being opened for me by perfect strangers who say “you’re welcome” with such grace that I can’t help but take a lesson in manners
  • Going across a bridge (the longest train tressel in the world, according to Uncle History) and looking through the back window to see MIL brandishing a rosary at him (seriously, she could have hurt him with it!)
  • Teasing MIL and then hugging her and then having her ask what POS means, and knowing that I’d better brush up my vocabulary a bit
  • Beating my nieces at memory…twice…and knowing they will come back tomorrow ready for more
  • Seeing the Mississippi River as the backdrop for two nieces and my daughter, all hugging
  • Watching my nieces with my daughter…unfettered energy and unleashed love
  • Hearing my nieces call my husband and explain the day to him (and hearing how important my role in it was)
  • Holding and hugging and touching and cuddling and teasing and seeing how much those nieces have grown and changed and become beautiful young women