The Chicks, our chickadees (kids) and the two roosters (husbands) are back from a fabulous road trip to New Orleans, and what a trip it was!  Although we now are tweeting, we thought we’d fill you in on the timeline of major events that took place along the way…..

Sunday, June 6, 9:00 am: excitement building when we load the kids in the car for a 6 hour ride on the first day of the road trip.

Noon: First stop on the way to L.A. (Lower Alabama) is the Cracker Barrel just south of Montgomery.  Our Cracker Barrel national map shows it to be the only one in the area.  Kids are buying candy, sniffing candles, and waiting to be seated.  Vegetable plates and biscuits- this is some kind of good.  Next stop- the Marriott Grand in Point Clear for a few days of swimming and beach fun.  Wondering if we will see tar balls in the sand.

Tuesday: in search of old-fashioned soda shop that Chick B had visited on previous trip to the area.  While driving, shocked to see large, relatively new Catholic church on side of the road- St. Margaret’s of Scotland- near Foley, AL.

Late Tuesday, 9:00 pm: Chick A’s daughter bumps chin on giant pool slide.  On ambulance ride to nearest medical facility to get stitches, driver tells Chick A that there is a rather large population of Catholics along the road stretching from Foley to Gulf Shores.  Who knew?

Wednesday, 11:00 am: Arrive at the Bayou!  Pick up husbands at New Orleans airport and head into New Orleans, Catholic capital of the South.

Wednesday, 2:00 pm: visit the international shrine of St. Jude to pray for sick family members.  Multi-tasking stop- trying to light candles and pray, give a donation to a homeless couple who needed bus fare, and learn about St. Jude.  Wondering what that tuft of hair (or something) is on top of St. Jude’s head.

Wednesday, 5:00 pm: Visit St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square.  Light more candles, say more prayers, and try to figure out the life of Louis.  A true treasure of a site less than a few blocks from Bourbon Street.  One kid comments on the possibility of the confessional boxes being real busy in that part of town.

Thursday, 7:30 am: Chick B (early riser) makes it to 7:30 mass to receive unexpected blessing.   Father Maestri, celebrating the mass that morning, had spent a year in Atlanta at Chick B’s parish.  Former Protestant in her just loved and appreciated his homilies.  He nailed one again that morning.  Hung around to try to say hello, but never saw him.

9:00 am- Breakfast at Cafe du Monde with special entertainment from Hack Bartholomew whose calling is to “lift up the name of Jesus down in New Orleans.”

10:00 am: NOLA food hangover setting in.  Burning hot- not even noon.

11:00 am: Horse and buggy ride in the French Quarter pointing out all the beautiful sites, including the Old Ursuline Convent, once home to the first girls-only school in the United States.

Noon: second meal in less than 2 hours, ignoring onset of food hangover.  Great conversation with business colleague on Catholic culture in the Big Easy.

2:00 pm: Trolley ride to Loyola.  Church of the Holy Name closed for renovation.  This place gives hot new meaning – sweating hot, that is.

Thursday, 7:30 pm: in total denial of food hangover.  Dinner at another one of the Brennan family restaurants.  After dinner, begin planning a water and fruit juice fast once we get home.

Friday, 11:00 am: Husbands back at the airport.  Put kids in car and head across the Lake Ponchartrain bridge to Covington, LA to see Walker Percy’s grave at St. Joseph’s Abbey.
More on Walker Percy later.

Friday night, somewhere along I-65 North: one last meal at the Cracker Barrel on the way home.  All is right with the world.

Chicks A and B