My roots are showing.

I’m in Louisiana visiting my sister at her gorgeous condo in steamy New Orleans, and just saw It: Chapter 2 in a very responsive theater. Things are looking up. I love my sister. She’s hilarious and cuts the bullshit like no one else, and a visit to her town is long overdue. She’s lived here for years, but I never came down to visit, since she visits Utah/Montana fairly often, and I’ve been lazy about it/broke/busy/lazy again. It’s a damn shame, because she’s my favorite person ever, and seeing her is an absolute treat.

This morning we walked her dog, Zelda, and she made frittata cupcakes for breakfast with some tasty chicory-free coffee. Then, we drove around a bit, I bought fancy seasoning salt and some stickers, and we had a little sit down by the river. We picked up beignets and frozen coffee drinks at a local shop on the way home. She worked in the afternoon while I watched The Americans and we both provided commentary. Dinner was at a fancy place with a scrumptious menu:

And dessert was boozy to-go cups of daiquiris for the movie. Then we watched a killer clown get its comeuppance 27 years in the making, and headed home. This trip I’ve seen lizards, frogs, Spanish moss and street cats, magnolia trees, tourist traps, and a tortoise with a balloon tied to it so it’s owner, having a picnic on the river bank, could let it roam free on the grass without losing the speedster. It’s been a great trip.

Tomorrow we head to the French Quarter, and I will attempt not to lose an ankle to cobblestones, and hopefully get haunted a bit.

This trip has been wonderful, and yet there’s a certain sort of sadness in that I could never have this kind of fun with the partner I chose 10 years ago (well, ten years on the 23rd but who keeps track of these things? Not me, no sir). I wouldn’t have has such a good time with that person here, making bad jokes and bristling at the thought of seeing what the city had to offer. I would have been bending over backwards trying to make that person happy, which, when it comes down to it, was impossible.

And it bugs me that visiting my sister is compared to an imaginary trip with an invisible burden.

So really, I’m having a great time, but my belly hurts occasionally, and not from the spicy food or rum cocktails.

Sister has been great at letting me vent a bit, but certainly not wallow in that discomfort. Like I said, she cuts the bullshit, and I appreciate that immensely. She also wholly deserves a beautiful condo and happy pets, and it’s nice to see them all here for her in a city she has made her home. I’m so proud of the woman she is now, and I’m so grateful that we’re as close as we are. I’m glad that my trip is short enough not to bother her in her life, but long enough to be able to see this place and see her be amazing here. I’m incredibly lucky she’s in my life.

Now, it’s about bedtime, and I want to get a few minutes of humid, peaceful reflection on her porch before I head to sleep. It’s very nice to be here. I needed to be with family for a bit. The roots of my family tree run deep in my soul, and I love every minute I get with them. Sweet dreams, loyal reader.