the trip that came in between

so there I was slowly but surely making my way through the China trip photos and story when I was called away for another trip! I had to break my rule of not going anywhere until the last trip's photos were completed... mostly because this was a kind of/sort of trip- not really a tourist thing but a course-

the course was in the culture of the Cajuns through music, food and dance... OK with my torn up knee I didn't do too much (any) of the dancing. the instructors were wonderful and we learned a huge amount of information about Cajun culture that we had no idea about before we spent our week at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette LA.

we started the adventure by spending a couple of nights in New Orleans at the Omni Royal Orleans in the Vieux Carre (that is what my grandfather always called the French Quarter and one of its names)- below the view from our room which overlooked Bourbon Street...

we did the usual stuff- beignets and café au lait at the French Market...

walked around and dropped dollars at numerous street musicians' baskets and ate fabulous food in a town where I believe you would be hard pressed to get a bad meal!  We started at GW Fins- a place new to us for a fish dinner on Saturday night (hours after we arrived) and were very happy with the excellent meal!

blue crab potstickers (below) and lobster dumplings (above)

my parmesan crusted drum with crabmeat, crispy capers and brown butter

Phil's scalibut - scallops over halibut

dessert was an apple pie made to order- served a-la-mode

the next day we lunched at Luke - one of my personal favorites and now one of Phil's- the pictures aren't so great but the food was fabulous!

We then dined in the evening at August-

photos of the tasting menu below-

We walked home that evening in a light drizzle, past classic New Orleans architecture.

On Monday we headed out US90 (the back way) to Lafayette and stopped at a po' boy sandwich shop for lunch before we checked into the hotel for the week long course.  The back to back meals were sort of from the sublime (August) to the ridiculous (Bon Creole Lunch Counter) but both were superb examples of their genre of cuisine!

as you can see Phil went for the shrimp po boy and I went for the oyster po boy! both were spot on!

Next up - the class begins!

a day of sorrow

this morning we wept when we learned that a dear family friend had lost his very young son Luke.  Luke was an amazing little boy who was smart and funny and happy despite suffering horrendous medical problems from the age of two. I still recall the Thanksgiving Weekend years ago when we found out Luke had been diagnosed with brain cancer.  He was barely two.  He soldiered through chemo and various other treatments to become a cancer survivor by the ripe old age of four.

the chemotherapy has left him with a hearing loss but he learned to speak quite well with the use of hearing aids.  He was extremely articulate and shared his joy and sense of humor with us each time we saw him.  Because he was immuno-compromised he was not allowed to have tons of interaction with other kids (petri dishes that they are...) so he grew up in adult company. 

the last time we saw Luke he made beautiful drawings for us.  I posted his drawing for me on an earlier blog post last January.  here it is again-

you can see it is filled with love and joy (and dominoes!) and signed Love, Luke. 

Shortly after this drawing Luke became ill - not the cancer again - he was still cancer free when he passed away this morning.  He was suffering the loss of lung function, a side effect of the chemotherapy he underwent to save his life four years earlier.  His situation deteriorated and he was taken north to Philadelphia to the Children's Hospital for specialist treatment. About a week ago he was too ill to see anyone but his parents and was in ICU awaiting a lung transplant.  Just a day ago he was flown to Columbus where a donor was located but he never made it to surgery.

I cry as I type these words- the brave little soul passed into spirit this morning. He was such an amazing little kid and it is such a painful loss to everyone who knew him but especially to his parents Brian and Lisa. He was so treasured by his parents.  And in a bitter irony that life sometimes deals out- Brian trained and worked for many years as a respiratory therapist. 

you know- sometimes life sucks and when it does we have to hold on to those things we have that get us through- the love of our friends and family, faith, joy in small pleasures and treasured moments. My heart aches for all of those who loved Luke and feel the loss with his passing.

And I am reminded again that life is short- that everything on this physical plane can be gone in an instant. For any of us....  Do the things you love, spend time with those you love and who create more joy in your life.  Go NOW, do NOW, don't wait - don't wait... there is too little time not to focus on the loving, the joy, the happiness.

Today I am remembering Luke the day he created the drawing filled with love above.  And, I am crying....