Vivienne and The Mississippi Princess

A few weeks back we went to New Orleans to meet the bro and Michelle and pick up my dad. Jo had a near-death allergy experience at the Audubon Aquarium resulting from eating eggs at a fine breakfast at Brennan's. And I got my customary "thanks for driving in Louisiana" speeding ticket. It was a great trip otherwise. We were touched by the warmth of the people we met. Vivian had a lot of fun. When we told her it was time to return to Austin, she wanted to "stay in the city and eat some more good food". Here's a picture that Alu took of the fam on Canal Street one evening, and another of Vivian in Audubon Park .

And a couple of stories from the Mississippi delta:

Vivienne

One morning Vivian and I came down for breakfast twice. Once with Jo and then again with my dad. The second time around there was a multi-national movie crew finishing their breakfast. Vivian ran up and down the halls and played with me till one of the French girls planted herself between Vivian and me and intercepted her for a hug. Vivian obliged. The girl picked her up and asked her name. "Vivian" - we both replied. "Ah - Vivienne" she said. "Non - Vivian" we tried again. She nodded happily and said "Vivienne".

For the next 10 minutes they wandered around and Vivienne was introduced to the rest of the crew. She posed for numerous pictures, shook hands, and was frequently kissed on both cheeks. I finally extracted Vivienne from the girl and went back upstairs with my dad.

The Mississippi Princess

On our last evening in New Orleans we ate at Emeril's. When we came back to the hotel, Kevin - the bellman greets Vivian with his usual: "Hello Princess". He asks when I'll need the car again and I tell him not till tomorrow morning when we will be heading back to Austin. He asks what time? I tell him "when Vivian wakes up".

After everyone retires for the evening, I come back down to the lobby on the second floor to spend some quality time with my computer. At about midnight, the bellman spots me and runs over. "Brother - I have something for you". Then he's gone. He shows up a few minutes later. "The Princess dropped this" - and hands me a flower hair clip that Vivian was wearing earlier and dropped when she got out of the car.

In the morning I walk downstairs to call for the car and find the rental sitting in the one and only parking spot under the hotel portico. Upon asking I am told that when Kevin got off work in the morning, he went to the parking garage and got the rental car down and parked it here and told the bellmen that "it stays here till The Princess wakes up and is ready to go home".

I suppose that if there comes a time when Vivian feels unloved in Austin, she'd do well to head for the Crescent City.

Stop Counting

Two blog-posts ago it was "Stop Talking". Vivian appears to not want her dad to do quite a few things.

Yesterday we were at Carol's. It was time to say good bye and head to Nicolle's. To delay having to get into her car seat, Vivian ran around the driveway repeating "Goodbye Grandma". So it inevitably came down to this:

Me: "Vivian - get into the car now. One....two...."
Vivian: Mommy - tell daddy to stop counting. I am very busy with Grandma"

Sometimes I worry where things could go from here.

The Chocolate Bar

We are in Houston at Cara and Eric's. Vivian and Holden play well together. Holden is very good natured and is happy to share anything. Which is good - because within five minutes of arriving at their house, Vivian had commandeered ownership of their dog ("I like my Gypsy") and everything else.

After the kids were in bed, Eric and I went to The Chocolate Bar and got back the richest ice creams and a slice of very good 7 layer chocolate cake. When we returned I told Jo that Eric and I were the only two straight guys at the place. Jo said "Oh how cute. An inter racial couple".

Stop Talking

Every once in a while Vivian says something that gives a glimmer of what must be going on inside a toddler's brain.

The other day we were driving on I-35. Jo handed Vivian some food from the front seat. Then I asked Jo something and we got to talking for several seconds. Vivian needed another piece of food and in ever louder and shriller tones she repeated "Mommy - I need food". To which Jo replied "Vivian - I am talking to daddy".

I looked back in the rear view mirror. I could practically smell rubber burning as Vivian's brain digested this fresh piece of information. Then her face cleared up and I could see that she had finished processing and was ready to act.

She said: "Daddy - stop talking. Road is busy".