But they were rested enough to welcome me with a gallon of margaritas and some great conversation. Then we went to the French Quarter for some of the best gumbo in the world.
At Evelyn's Place, a really seedy dive on Chartres St. I found Evelyn and her gumbo 25, well maybe 30 years ago when I asked a cocktail waitress at one of the "fancy" places, "Where do you go to chill when you get off work?" It's another of those places, like the thrift shop in Laguna Beach, that I consider "mine" even though I never got there more than twice a year.
But whenever I walked in and said, in my best N'awlin's accent, "Hey Dahlin', where Y'at?" Evelyn would put down her drink and her cigarette, come out from behind the bar and give me a kiss. Then she'd look at me for a minute and say, "Helicopters. Right?" and if Mary Ann wasn't with me, "Where's that lovely lady of yours?"
Every time we visited, Evelyn would put a big pot of gumbo in the fridge for us. We'd pack a couple of dozen gallon freezer bags and put them in a freezer chest, duct tape it closed and bring it home as baggage. One year I said, "You know, if this duct tape fails, those freezer bags are toast. So what's the point?" After that we just poured a few gallons right into the freezer chest and REALLY duct taped it shut.
I hadn't been in 10 years. I heard that Evelyn had died in Feb. and I couldn't leave the area without paying my respects with a cold long neck. Having Lonnie and Vince along for support really helped. I don't think I could have done it alone. The memories, oh the memories. GOOD ones, but still.
The lady working asked if I'd been a "regular". I said, "Sorta. I've been away a long time. And I've heard about Evelyn." She took my hand and said, "Oh good. I'm not very good at telling people."
This link, Evelyn's does a much better job of capturing the spirit. But they missed one picture that helps explain why Mary Ann loved the place, and Evelyn as much as I did.
Can you say, "Kindred spirits"??
And one for me
If you look REAL close, in the upper left corner you can see part of a VA Tech and a UVA banner. Obviously, Evelyn would let anybody in.
We drank a little, ate some gumbo and red beans and rice, and cried a little. Well, a little more than a little. But as my counselor used to tell me, "The only reason it's all so hard is because it was all so wonderful."
Yes,I know Life IS Good, but I still miss her so much.
It's going to be very hard to leave my wonderful new friends, already like family, here in MS and LA. But I'm ready to go back to VA.
