Excited to be back in our favorite city
J and K's new home, so spacious and pretty
They’ve moved to Wirth Place
For our youth, a new base
And don’t forget Li’l Paws and the kitty
Our first night, J made Skyline Chili
NOLA Skyline might sound a bit silly
But it tasted so good
We knew that he could
This Big Easy creation was a dilly
The Southern Jewish Museum is grand
Gripping stories presented firsthand
It touched upon fears
And we shed a few tears
Jews making the rural South their homeland
K brought us to lunch at Freret Faire
Rouse’s deli with their own pastrami flair
The guy messed up our check
Saved five dollars by heck
I stayed silent, pretended we were square
Our grandkids’ report cards, straight A’s
Their teachers had nothing but praise
Math and English and art
To excel takes such heart
Eighth grade mastered, A and L do amaze
Dat Dog has the fanciest treats
Alligator sausage, weirdest of meats
We took a bench outside
Stuffed our guts till we cried
Then rode home on the bumpiest streets
We went to the Newman High game
Arch Manning’s already gained fame
He’s headed for Texas
Perhaps with a Lexus
But Arch’s team, I must say, they looked lame
To the Quarter and the famous Redfish Grill
Delicious plus a not-too-bad bill
For me, a po-boy
Raw oysters, Katja’s joy
Redfish chefs have the best Cajun skill
Thanksgiving p.m., to the track
People costumed like Lulu and Mac
Our group bet some dough
But our nags were too slow
So we bugged out, came home for a snack
J cooked up a twenty-pound turkey
Filled its skin with butter, so quirky
All the family did sides
Boosted triglycerides
So scrumptious we all felt quite perky
At the Orleans Historic Collection
A tour of Notre Dame’s resurrection
Viewed a digital display
Filmed from every which way
Holy Moly, this cathedral nears perfection
Off to Marsalis Park, the Art Mart
Paintings, jewelry, we loved every part
Classic New Orleans scenes
And the pics of drag queens
All that beauty infuses one’s heart
Ted’s Frostop is a circa fifties diner
Never been to a diner that’s finer
Their burgers were tops
Not to mention soda pops
Dreamed up by some kitschy designer
We shopped at the parkway Goodwill
My black leather belt, such a thrill
It cost just six bucks
And it’s ultra-deluxe
It will last till I’m in the landfill
Our group did the Museum of Art
Black photographers, portraits so smart
Bourgeois in acrylic
Surreal scenes idyllic
Too sad that we had to depart
We watched the Big Ten’s top-ranked game
U. of M., O.S.U., such acclaim
And wonder of wonders
The Buckeyes made blunders
And our Wolverines affirmed their fierce name
M.S. Rau sells antiques and fine art
It helps set Royal Street apart
Picasso, a million two
Chagall prices, “Whew Whew”
A million-dollar chess set tickled my heart
La Crepe Nanou on our very last night
The perfect wind-up ahead of our flight
My salmon was delicious
The dessert was capricious
Nanou was a connoisseur’s delight
To the airport, beignets at Morning Call
Big jolts of strong coffee for all
So sad to be leaving
Already we’re grieving
This trip, we agree, was a ball
