One year and counting....

June 13th was just around the corner and Josh and I were set to have a beautiful weekend on Dauphin Island, Alabama enjoying the beaches, blue water and celebrating our one year anniversary. Well, we can thank BP for putting an end to those plans. Although Dauphin Island beaches haven't been plastered in oil yet, tar balls are showing up on shore and the stank of oil is in the air. Needless to say, Josh and I bailed on the wonderful B&B my parents gave us for Christmas and headed towards New Orleans.

We left on Saturday in the wee hours of the morning ( 7 am) and took our tour guides with us. It just so happens that a friend from work lives in the same apartment complex (literally down two flights of stairs and to the right) as Josh and I....and wouldn't you know it, he has a girlfriend who is a gem to hang out with and they both happen to be from the area. So, as disgruntled as our dear friends were with the departing time, they were happy to accompany us to tour a couple plantations of Louisiana.


Oak Alley Plantation



The name of the plantation is self explanatory, an alley of oak trees that are hundreds of years old lead the path to the front entrance of this gigantic plantation. It is absolutely magnificent. Here is what I learned: the saying "he got the short end of the stick" originated back in the day of candlelight. When a daughter had a potential suitor over at the house, the father would raise or lower a candle via a spinning holder. The suitor was only allowed to stay at the house as long as the candle continued to burn at a certain level. Thus if her father enjoyed a young man, he would raise the candle stick allowing the candle to burn longer before sending the young lad on his way. Now, for those gents who were not so fortunate, the candle stick was lowered, thus eliminating the amount of time spent with an impressionable daughter.



Next up, the Laura Plantation
Below is a picture of a slave cabin. Descendants of slaves continued to live in these cabins until the 1970s.


Compared to the rest of the world, slavery in LA was different than the rest of the world. Slaves were bought and sold, but these people were not allowed to be separated from spouses or children, they were not allowed to work on Sundays unless they wanted to and were paid to do so, and if their owner was abusive they had the right to turn the owner in and sue.


Now off to the beautiful hotel overlooking the Mississippi River. We stayed at the Westin for our anniversary. I'm pretty sure this was the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in......well at least the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in when Josh has had a say in where we're staying. The soap looked like huge mint leaves. It took everything I had to not grab an extra to bring home. I have been a little wary these days about what I bring home since Josh has been threatening to put me on the TV show Hoarders. After a couple of hours out of the 100 degree weather and humidity, we showered off the sweat and slipped into some going out clothes. We headed to the casino to test our luck.

As you all might know I am a thrifty, coupon cutting kind of gal. It is kind of ironic that I enjoy to gamble like a drunken sailor. It turned out to be a lucky night and our dinner at Rio Mar was on the casino. Crawfish bruscetta and a hanger steak put our appetites to ease. Next up, we took the New Orleans haunted tour. Our walking tour took us our through the haunted hot spots of the French Quarter. Lots of freak accidents and fires (much like Chicago, New Orleans once burnt to the ground) have left trapped spirits throughout NOLA. Definitely a fun day.

Our 1st year of marriage...
It started with a beautiful wedding, darting off to spend time with family, a quick camping trip to Medora, ND, a whole bunch of tears and then Josh was off to commissioned officer's training. We spent 6 miserable weeks apart and then together we left MSP airport together to make the drive to MS. A new spouse, new military life, new job, new home, new friends, and a new region to explore. With all of the changes we have faced, the one source of stability and consistency has been Josh. Let's talk consistency.....Josh consistently leaves the toilet seat up, drinks out of the milk carton, leaves the shower curtain open, lays on the bed with his dirty shoes and on and on. BUT, he also consistently strives to be a better person, help others, the calm in chaos, dependable, trustworthy, and a true friend. We have learned a lot over the past year....mostly good things, but most importantly the guy I married is still my best friend. Life and all that life has to offer is so much better when you have the right person to enjoy it.