CEYG Reunion Tour

July 25

The long hours of driving and (let’s be frank) the fact that we are on Day 27 of our epic adventure caused us all to sleep in a bit later than we planned. Lucky for us, Amanda and Ian completely understood – they are avid blog followers after all.

When we got ourselves together for the day we headed out for a fashionably late lunch at Datz Delicatessen. While we were waiting for our table we explored some of uptown Tampa with Amanda who blew us away with her amazing sense of direction and driving abilities. (Not kidding Ian – we forgot to tell you that she was really incredible at figuring out where we were!)

Ian met us from the hospital and we all enjoyed the delicious sandwiches, salads and homemade potato chips that were sprinkled with a salt & sugar and then drizzled with blue cheese and scallions – also known as “crack” chips for their mildly addictive qualities. There was also wonderful live music from a talented guitarist and pianist.

Deciding what to do for the day was a challenge. Should we explore Tampa? Should we go to the beach? Or should we just hang out at home? In the end we decided to have a quiet afternoon at the house and it was glorious! We lounged about the pool and caught up with Amanda and Ian – oddly enough a lot can happen in five years!!

Before we knew it dinnertime had rolled around and we hadn’t even gone to “make groceries” – a little NOLA terminology there for y’all. C, K, and Amanda went to the Publix down the road to pick up the essentials for a dinner we had planned to cook CBK style: Bruschetta appetizers followed by Chicken Parmesan, Italian-style summer squash and spaghetti. K’s fabulous blackberry and peach cobbler completed the menu.

During dinner, Amanda had us all on the edge of our seats, hanging onto her every word as she described what it was like to live in New Orleans during Katrina. We couldn’t believe our ears as she described what it was like to come back to their home after it had spent five weeks in water. Mold covered everything that she and Ian had left behind, debris was strewn everywhere and they had only moved to NOLA eight weeks before Katrina hit! Even though they had lost a lot of possessions Amanda reminded us that she and Ian were some of the lucky ones as they had only lost things that could for the most part be replaced. Thousands of others had lost everything they owned – including their homes – and loved ones as well. We too were grateful that Amanda and Ian (and Jasper) had all survived unscathed. But, as the hour had grown late, we reluctantly retired from our reminiscing for the evening.

States visited: Florida

Yellow car count: Moratorium but…C saw 1 yellow hummer so 5 pts for her.

C – 296

B – 296

K – 356

Amanda – 3

Highs and Lows:

Group high – A & I & J & T

Group low – too short of a visit

C high – poolside debates, kitchen chats and perfectly steeped teas.

C low – hospital pagers

B high – old friends

B low – having to take cold meds

K high – hanging out with A & I

K low – that Ian was called away to the hospital