Impending trip to visit the fambly in Louisiana

[billeyler]

Since Danny has come into my life, a by-product of that is that I've kept in much better touch with my brothers and know a bit more about their lives than I did pre-Danny. He's supportive of me being a part of it. Well, I am, too, but we generally have an attitude of 'this is my life and you're not really much of a part of it.'

So off we go on Tuesday to Bossier City Louisiana for our THIRD holiday visit in the 4 1/2 years Danny and I have been en-coupled. Mom, Bruce and Steve all still live in Louisiana where our family moved in 1964 (Barksdale AFB).

I'm not really dreading it, although the thought of seeing my mom again in the squallor of the tiny house that I spent my formative years in gives me pause.

A year ago August, I flew back there to help her out after her multiple surgeries, and get all the handicapable paraphernalia she'd need to recouperate. I ended up spending five days sorting and organizing hers and my brother's belongings to make a path, plus a dozen or so house projects to make it more livable. This on top of my 44 year old brother that has lived with her for five years since his divorce. Of course the projects barely made a dent in any of this, but if I hadn't done something to help relieve the shabbiness, I would have gone nuts.

Then, my only friend I've kept in touch with from junior high school on warrants a visit. Dale has been an unusual touchstone in my life, since we share some key turning point events. It's not really that easy to visit Dale and his wife and kids (grown)...one, the conversations are generally 100% about him and his family (Star Trek based)...and two, he was paralyzed in 1994 from the waist down from a gunshot wound during a holdup. That's our only non-family visit planned. Danny's 3rd with THEM, too!

So that's what's in my head as we prepare to make this journey. We fly in to Dallas, rent a car, then drive the 3 hours to Bossier.

The blessing is that we'll be spending a little quality time with my brother Steve (49) and his lovely wife Grace (51), and some of their relatives. Grace comes from an firmly entrenched Shreveport family of some means, and she's made a huge impact on how Steve lives. She's the best thing that ever happened to my brothers...his first marriage was a mess.

Plus Grace asked us if we'd make a nice spiced ham for the family TG dinner. That feels so inclusive! :-)

I suspect one of the 'projects' I'll try to coordinate the tearing down of the rotten falling-down garage at my mom's house that either or both of my brothers should have coordinated years ago, but haven't.

On the more fun side, I'm thinking we'll tour North and Central Louisiana, and maybe over to Jackson MS to try to find ante-bellum homes to visit.

We know how to have a good time! We'll fill up the eight days somehow!

Comments

[otterpop58.livejournal.com]

  Plus Grace asked us if we'd make a nice spiced ham for the family TG dinner. That feels so inclusive! :-)

Do you really think your family is ready for Virginia? Is Ed available for holiday travel?

XO

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

We'll put on plenty of cloves to mask the drag! BTW, Virginia Hamm told me at convention that they were JUST about to move to Boston. The several guys I recently asked about that in San Fran were confused, since they thought I was talking about Diablo Dancer founder Ed Conley. Virginia must not have been much known in San Fran anymore. Wonder if Ed and his partner actually made the move...