Sunday, Sunday!

So I had the most special surprise this weekend. It was Thursday night and my sister that lives in California called. She had that ring in her voice that meant something was going on. I greeted her and asked her what was up… To my surprise she had been asked to come down to BR for the weekend!

I know, that’s what I thought! WOW!

It’s amazing what a little family can do for your heart. I was elated. So we planned to meet on Sunday in New Orleans. Little did I know how much fun I was going to have. I picked up my grandparents at 8am and we were bound to the NO.

Once upon a time… our destination was “Brennan’s”, a special breakfast joint nestled in the French Quarter that was high class and high quality. I can’t begin on the lovely things I ordered. Among them were turtle soup, strawberry crapes and eggs combo-ed with deliciousness. It was so special sharing dinner with everyone. Lots of coffee, laughing… and a loads of great foods.

That’s the three of us girls. Ashley is to the left, the better looking half of me as she would put it. Someone has to get all the looks huh Ash? And then in the middle is Mel, or Melissa. She is as sweet as a Southern gal can get. Her giggles are endless and love for way too expensive purses is out of my mind’s scope. Nonetheless she is my dearest oldest sis and I love that she got to come to La even if it was too short…

Say hello to Joe. Yes, that’s my Paw Paw in all his glory. I can’t express the love I have for that man. He only says something when it’s worth saying it, mainly jokes at that. He isn’t one of those guys who likes to hear himself talk you know? Every time I am around him I like to pick his brain. I have been intrigued with people’s stories lately and come to find out he had more to his than I really knew. He was born in some obscure part of Sicily and came here with his 6 other brothers by BOAT! Yea, you heard me. I know, it’s crazy to me. Nonetheless he moved state side and ended up getting raised by his mother after his father was held up and shot in their family store. I KNOW. All these details… so late in my life. I am glad I get them now…

I insisted that him and my Meme pose with the colorful crazy horse.

I am instantly drawn to anything historic. If I close my mind off to this world enough I can almost take myself back to the time in history of the building or park or for this instance, the city of New Orleans 250 years ago… I feel like I can hear the sounds of the horses hooves carrying carriages and wisping by as I stand in the middle of it all. Just a thought though, just a brief small thought.

Another thing that I enjoy about this shot is my grandpa’s hand. I look at it and just get lost. All those years. All those places he has used those hands. All the times he has held his wife’s hand. All the work those hands have invested time in. I just can’t fathom it all. I appreciate those hands. I know that somehow those hands have played a huge part in this life I am living and for some reason that makes me short on breath. This picture is so much more than two people, it’s more than a moment, it’s rich with love, it’s rich in emotion. It’s my heritage and that makes me proud and emotion in the same second.

This next picture makes me want to start shooting photos again. I took it very seriously in college but as monies ran out and life ran on, I lost the art. What do you think? I just wish I could give this shot to these lovely people.

When I shot this one I realized that photography is still a large part of my heart.

Again, this duo makes me smile in so many ways. Meme makes 91 in January and I can’t explain how NOT 90 she is. The woman still works out 3 times a week… drives, not on the interstate, but nonetheless, DRIVES! When we are places she doesn’t know how loud she speaks about the people that wait on us or that pass by abruptly. It’s more humorous than anything and I always have a bright red face when she tries to set me up with the boy that brings the bread to the table. It’s absolutely priceless, I cherish my times with them.

The time was GRAND. It’s a rare day for us all to be together! These two  are jewels… absolute JEWELS….

More glamor shots!

She was realizing how amazing his joke was… it took a minute!

And they lived happily ever after… the End.