Trip of a Lifetime!

The trip of a lifetime for me! Or should I say another trip of a lifetime? I’ve had a few…

But this one? Special on so very many levels.

It started with a week in New Orleans, with my sister and her husband, five of their kids (adopted!!), and two of their grandkids.

The family rented a big house a bit northeast of the French Quarter and we spent a lot of time zipping back-and-forth in the family’s van or using Lyft.

Taking in the beautiful architecture.

Cafê du Monde where my grand niece got me to dance, (though I had to hold onto a railing.)

LOTS of food.

The Voodoo Museum.

A daily trek to a Vietnamese café for incredible frozen Vietnamese coffee.

But mostly, family. Here is the mob with Thao, the wonderful woman who served us Vietnamese coffee every day.

I was the first to leave, checking into a hotel on Tuesday. The others left on Wednesday.

Why did I check into a hotel? It was the place everyone on my cruise gathered for one night before we took off on the cruise.

The cruise is a eight day trip up the Mississippi River!

Here are a few shots from my first day and morning sunrise.

And why this big wonderful trip? I turn 80 this month. I figured I deserved it.

After the cruise, I’ll spend a few days in Memphis.

Graceland! Barbecue!

And then on to Louisville where I’ll celebrate my actual birthday with my sister, together on that date for the first time since I was 17.

Birthday cake, and everything!