Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving And Beyond

THANKSGIVING DAY-

Kayla and her husband, Ray St. Jacques hosted Thanksgiving Dinner at their house.. They used the top floor of their house..
"Welcome everybody....As my aunt Alfreda says...Dig in...Grab yourselves a plate...We are all family here...There are no strangers..." said Kayla...

."That's right...We operate Buffet style..."said her husband, Ray,...

"Kayla, everything is just beautiful...Once again, you've outdone yourself girl."said Olivia.

''Well done ." I agreed 

"There's enough food for everyone and then some..." said Alfreda...



Her cousin, Olivia,Olivia's husband,  Donnie Ray and her "Aunt" Alfreda prepared the Thanksgiving meal and Thanksgiving Table..

Donnie Ray's Sister and brother in law and his Niece and Nephew were up from New Orleans again, this year and were dining with us.... His sister and brother in law were staying in the spare bedroom in 
Olivia and Donnie Ray's domicile... While the kids were staying downstairs with Beverly and Nelson.


Beverly and her husband, Nelson and his mother arrived shortly afterwords...

Josie, Paris and his mother and father arrived too..



Bresha, Tony and Alfreda's husband, Rockland arrived.....



Jazzy, Dabnis and their parents arrived...


Jessica and Chip arrived with their Parents and Jessica's Grand Mother..

Jade and her husband, Danny Ho arrived....

Yvette,and Gary and Ms. Yvette's Mother arrived next....



Sofia and Kahlil arrived with their parents and Sofia's Grandmother.

Bee Bee came with her mother and father...
Keith Jone's  Father came again with girlfriend...Someone we all knew 
ADA Sharrone Stokes...

It had been a year and they were still together...For him, that was a record, according to what Keith Jones told me.

 Virginia Shaw and Jetty Dukes Arrived next...


Jetty brought Champaigne and Wine..




"Now it's a party" he declared as everybody cheered.

The Caterer arrived with a tray for everybody... An Italian Buffet, A Pan-Asian Buffet, A Latin Buffett, A Middle Eastern Buffett and a Soul Food Buffett...

Everyone's Parents were impressed and really happy that we had thought about all of the different heritages our group consisted of













Zoey and Lem arrived and Karen Page and B.L. joined us.....

And newcomers, Brooke, her husband, Sean, Natalie, her husband, David, Renee and her mother and Tyrell , her new husband and his mother and sister joined us...

"OH MY GOD!! ALL THIS FOOD!" exclaimed Brooke...
"Liv told us to bring our appetites.." laughed her husband Sean...

"She didn't lie....and she told us to bring containers to take some of this food home.."said Natalie..
"Good Idea....That will hold us on the weekends." said David..

"Oh My God...I really like hanging out with these guys, being affilliated with them.."said Tyrell..
"That's why we moved around here babes.." said his new wife, Renee.

Our circle of friends was growing even wider.....That was a good thing! This was our biggest celebration yet....



II-


A Week Later...All of us had arranged in advance to take a week off....And we had all booked a flight down to New Orleans... We were going to stay as guests of my Brother and sister in law , who owned Air BNB's in Monroe, Louisiana, a suburb...from Wednesday through Sunday, returning Sunday afternoon...


I hadn't been to my native New Orleans in two years...It felt really good to be back...and with my new friends and family...



My sister and brother met us at the Airport....



"Well hello Brother, Sister in Love....and friends...Welcome to New Orleans babbbbbbbbbby!"



"Helllo!   This is so nice and the weather is wonderful..."said  Olivia, hugging my sister...



"Hi sis, brother in law.." I said...
"Donnie Rayyyy, Olivia and crew.....Well come on we have bus service....Pile in....." said My brother in law...

"Good to know...We don't have to rent any cars.." said Olivia.



They also had mini bus service, just like Olivia...that transferred all of us to our destination...



We all stayed at My sister and brother in laws Air BnB's.... Even though she offered us free room and board..Everybody took up a collection and gave them $3200.00 dollars...Which they greatly appreciated...

Everybody got their own Air BNB... It housed two couples each....

"This is soooo nice...remember our last time here?" said Jazzy...
 
"Oh yeah...we had big fun..."said Dabnis..
"We got soooooooo toasted... I'm glad we have mini buses...We won't have to worry about driving."said Kayla.
"Oh yeah..." said her husband, Ray....



"I remember...We had a great time..." said Jessica...

"Yessssss." said Chip...



"I sooooo wished I had come along...I'm glad to be here now." said Karen..

"I am too!" said B.L..  "I love New Orleans." he said.



"This isn't my first time here...I was here for Essence Fest , a few years back...Me and an old boyfriend...but I'm glad to be here with you.."said Natalie to her husband, David.

"This is my first time here..This is great," said David.

"My first time tooo!   Wow!" said Brooke.
"What a set up...I love this." said Sean.
"I remember last time..." said Zoey.

"I do too!"laughed Lem..

"I believe I was down here for Essence Fest a few years back.... This is sooooo nice..." said Renee.


"Yes indeed....I love this group..These friends."said her husband, Tyrell. It was his first time. 

 "We had so much fun the last time we were here." said Yvette.

"Yes we did!  I hope those same clubs are open.." said Gary...

"This city parties around the clock!" said Keith Jones.
"The Question is...Can we party around the clock?" laughed his wife, Bee Bee...
"I'm ready to...We so needed a vacation.." said Sofia.
"Yeah...We sure did!" said Kahlil...
"I can't wait until tomorrow morning." said Jade.


"Oh Me neither." said her husband, Danny Ho.
"Oh My God.....I can't believe this...New Orleans....I haven't been here in eight years..."said Virginia..
The last time being the year before she was incarcerated. She never dreamed she 'd ever see New Orleans again.. but she never dreamed she be married...a homeowner and working for a prestigious law firm again either,.All things that was her reality now!


Her husband ,Judge William Jefferson T. Dukes, affectionally known as "Jetty" simpley looked at her and smiled.

"You and I have some great memories don't we dear heart....We first met here and fell in love."said Olivia.
 

"We did Indeed...We got married here too.." I said and hugged her...
"Awwwwwwwwwww yes, I remember it like it was yesterday..."said Beverly, smiling at both of us...
"I've had some legendary times here.." said Nelson..



"Yes we did Homeslice....Legendary times.."laughed Ray St. Jacques...


"Ummmmmmmmmmm hmmmmmmmm tell us about those legendary times" joked Ray's wife and Olivia and Beverly's cousin, Kayla..

Josie cracked up laughing....

So did her husband, Paris..
"It's a shame you have to take your classes virtually while you're down here Paris." said Bresha.
"He's hittin the home stretch now... He's almost there.."said her husband, Tony..

"You and I had a legendary time too.... I can't remember staying in bed, making love for almost 24 hours at anytime in my life before that.." said Alfreda..

"Me neither...but that certainly was a good memory...."laughed her husband, Rockland..

From Wednesday Night until Friday Night...everybody split up into small groups and enjoyed the Night life...





























Beverly, Nelson, Josie, Paris,Bresha ,Tony, Jazzy, Dabnis, Kayla, Ray, Natalie, David,Brooke, Sean Renee and Tyrell were in one group..going from club to club, drinking and dancing themselves silly...











Keith, Bee Bee, Sofia, Kahlil, Jessica and Chip formed the second group....Occassionally the two groups ran into each other and hung out...

Our younger counterparts were having the time of their lives..

That left the rest of us...The "Adults" went to a few Jazz clubs ,,,Olivia and I, Yvette and Gary, Jade and Danny, Virginia and Jetty, Alfreda and Rockland, Zoey and Lem and Karen and B.L. all hung out at these clubs.



























We really enjoyed the New Orleans nightlife...and the partying in the morning...



We usually beat the sun getting home and slept until the afternoon.... My sister and brother in law were amused..


"You and your friends are going to need a vacation from the vacation.." she joked.. it was true.



III-


On Saturday night, Olivia and I drove back to that hotel...Where we spent our very first night together so many years ago..

 ''You think we can get a room here Donnie Ray?" asked Olivia..
"I'm certain we can.." I said..

We were in luck, We found a room on the second floor, three doors down from the original room Olivia and I shared that night...

 "Oh My God...This is so weird...Imagine this.." said Olivia , holding my hand and leading me to the room..

She stopped and looked at my trousers...

They were standing out like a circus tent..

"Oh My lord!!!...Look at you....Let's get you inside with all of that!   Myyyy goodness.It never fails." she said..She laughed out loud!
"Put your key in the door.." I said..

Once in the room...I pulled Olivia to me...We kissed passionately...

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmm, you couldn't wait could you?" she said..

"No, I couldn't..."I said..

I unzippered her dress and slipped it off of her...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuu you are getting too good at this Donnie Ray...Getting my clothes off..."she said..

In no time,I had my trousers and my shirt and undershirt off and my socks and shoes...

"Damn girl....I thought about this all day.." I said.

"Really Donnie Ray?? All day?" she asked me in between wet sloppy kisses...

"All Day.."I said..

"Ummmmmm, well I'll have to reward you for your dilligence .....and attention to detail.." she said continuing to kiss me passionately...


She was wearing a Black  floral lace bra.....and a matching black floral lace panties, immediately got a rise out of me...Which she noticed...





"Ohhhh my MISTER ALEXANDER!!!" She said noticing my raging erection...  "You're a horse among ponies..."she said..

I smiled sheepishly...I had heard that before..

I gingerly slipped her bra off and I slipped her panties down and eagerly watched as she stepped out of them....

"My My Myyyyy.." was all I could say...

"Ouuuuuu Mr. Alexander.....you're fresh" she remarked...






I rubbbed her butt and slowly slipped her panties down and off...

"UMMMMMMMMMM" I moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUU PANTIES ON THE FLOOR, LEGS IN THE AIR!!!!" she cooed.

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" I moaned....


"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM" she cooed softly..

.


Soon, we  were kissing passionately in the middle of the floor...Olivia giggled...

Her lips were so soft....I was becoming aroused beyond belief....Something that wasn't lost on Olivia..


"LAWD!" I said..


"Oh Mr. Alexander.." she giggled...looking up at me....




"What's so funny?" I asked..

"Donnie Ray....Your penis!!!...It's..It's shaking...You really are excited aren't you?  Calm down....Calm down...It's going to be okayyyy" she said, stroking it lightly...and laughing..

"Can't help that..."I laughed sheepishly...

"Oh My god...you're as hard as an iron pipe...I'm going to have to take care of that...Ummmmmm"she said..



"OHHHHHHHHHHHH."I said.  I lifted her up and entered her gently and began to move in and out of her..
"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Easy Donnie Ray, Easyyyyy."Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Donnie Ray..Ohhhhhhhhh my godddd...Ummmmmmm, you are just showing off...Ouuuuuu lawd!" she whispered...Her entire body trembled something fierce....her head turned from side to side...and tears flowed down the side of her face.... She was having a very quick orgasm....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she moaned..




In no time , we were lying on the bed....I parted her legs and slowly entered her...She was shaking with anticipation....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed loudly...


"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OVER THERE?" came a voice from the room next door..

We ignored it!

I entered her softly,gently...She was wet and warm...I was losing my mind...as I began to move up and down slowly at first and then gradually faster...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Donnie Ray..Ohhhhhhhhh my godddd!!" she moaned...Her legs began shaking wildly and she kept kissing me as they did...her head turning from side to side...

"WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!" she cooed loudly..She was having another deeply intense orgasm....

EIGHT TO NINE HOURS of lovemaking continued...The bed had squeaking loudly and the headboard was moving and silently slamming against the wall, which caused the man in the next room to yell to the top of his lungs.. the entire time we were making love...


"FOR THE LOVE OF PETE...WILL YOU  TWO KNOCK IT THE HELL OFF WITH ALL THAT RACKET?I AM TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP!!! YOU TWO BEEN GOIN AT IT FOR HOURS....Shutttttttttttttttttttttt up!!!"he bellowed and slammed his fists on the wall..

This had happened the last time we had been here and the time before that...Could this be the same man?? Seemed like we were always next door to some crotchety old coot...

We ignored him and kept making love...

"Ummmmmmmm Donnie Ray, ouuuuuuuuuuuuu...give it to mama...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"she moaned..

"Yesss baby yes...." I moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she moaned loudly...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I yelled

"KNOCK IT THE HELL OFF WITH ALL THAT RACKET?I AM TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP!!!"the man in the room next to ours yelled ..He had a Philly accent...Maybe he was visiting too!


The bed was squeaking pretty loud and the headboard was slamming against his wall hard...I have to admit...This bed was far noisier than any bed we had slept in before....I was so glad the bed at my sister's house wasn't noisy like this...And the headboard sounded like it might come off at any minute...He continued to bang his fist on the wall.

  Olivia was feeling so good,she slapped me across the face...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu MISTER ALEXANDER...OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" she cried out....

  The bed squeaked even louder.....The lights in his room next door blinked on and off...



"I'M CALLIN THE DAMN MANAGER!! GO TO SLEEP IN THERE!!!YOU'VE GOT MY LIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF!!!SHUTTTTTTTTTT UP!!!" he yelled..."This doesn't make any gotdamn sense...Carrying on like that." he grumbled...

TWO TO THREE MORE HOURS PASSED and we weren't even close to stopping.. We did try to keep our moans to a minimum...

Olivia yelled out-

 "Yess...Yessssssssssssssssssss...YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Ouuuuuuuu YESSSSS!" she screamed....

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu ...oh my god...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"I moaned...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu lawd...ohhhhhhhh Donnie Ray...You are just showing off...You just showing off...ohhhhhhhhhh" she wailed..Her legs shaking again like crazy....

She moaned softly as the massive bed began to squeak and slam against the wall harder...
''Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Ohhh baby, give it to meeeeee....ummmmmmph...GIVE IT TO MAMA"

She kissed me over and over again!!

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... OLIVIA......ouuuuuuuuuu, more, more... ohhhhhh..."

"YES BABY YES...CALL MY NAME.....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...You can have all you want!!"she moaned.

"I'M CALLIN THE DAMN MANAGER ,THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO....NOW PIPE DOWN! SHUT IT UP I TELL YA!!! SHUTTTTTTTTTTTTT UP!!!" yelled the man next door.


"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh gooooddddddd lawdd it's soooo goood...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh girl...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh sweeeeet jesusssssssssss ...arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.."I cried ...out!!"Morrre...Morreee....morrre...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.. "

"WILL YOU TWO CUT THAT RACKET OUT IN THERE? GO TO SLEEP!!!" came the voice from next door...We both ignored him.

Another TWO HOURS must have gone by 

 "Donnie Ray...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee  Donnie Ray..ouuuu calm down honey...I aint goin nowhere...woooooooo you are so excited....ouuuuuuuuuuuuu." she screamed...

"Oh girl, you better not...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......ohhhhhhhhhhhh.." I moaned..

 "Donnie Ray..ouuuuuu..Donnie Ray....OHHHHHHH. DONNIE RAY ALEXANDER! Stop showing off in this bed...whooooooooooooo lawd.... GIVE IT TO ME DADDY.....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."she wailed...


"I'm GONNA CALL THE COPS! THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO....QUIET THA NOISE...CUT THAT DAMN RACKET OUT IN THERE! GO TO SLEEP!"came the voice of the man next door who loudly banged on the wall...

The bed was squeaking like crazy and the headboard sounded like it might come off at any minute..


"GO TO SLEEP OR I'M CALLIN THE COPS!  SHUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT UP!" he yelled

"Ohhhh Olivia, this is sooo damn goooood,ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..I'm losin my minddddddddd!! "I cried out!

 ''Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Ohhh Donnie Ray, give it to meeeeee....ummmmmmph..."she yelled...

 "AWWWWWWWWWW FOR CRYIN OUT LOUD!  QUIET THE NOISE!! SHUT IT UP OVER THERE!! DON'T MAKE ME HAVE TO CALL THE MANAGER! COME ON!!!!!" screamed the man next door!


"Ohhhh Olivia, this is sooo damn goooood,ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..I'm losin my minddddddddd!! I'm losin my minddddddddd!!  lawdddddddddddd! "I cried out!

"I'M LOSING SLEEP....CUT IT OUT IN THERE YOU TWO....I'M ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW CALLING THE MANAGER..THEN I'M CALLIN THE DAMN COPS!
NOW QUIET IT DOWN IN THERE!!!  SHUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT UP!"


''Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Ohhh Donnie Ray, give it to meeeeee....ummmmmmph...ouuuuuuuuuuuu...yessssssssss baby...yessssssss!"she yelled...

"Ohhhh Olivia, baby this is sooo damn goooood,ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..I'm losin my minddddddddd!!  BABY..I'm losin my minddddddddd!!  lawdddddddddddd girl, ummmppppppppppph! "I cried out!

"UMMMMMMMMMPH,Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Ohhh Donnie Ray, give it to meeeeee....ummmmmmph...ouuuuuuuuuuuu...yessssssssss baby...yessssssss! Give it to mama..."she yelled...her legs just shaking furiously, her head turning from side to side.. My body trembling...sweat running down the crack of my back...

The Headboard split right down the middle!!!!! All four legs of the bed broke off and the mattress landed on the floor with a loud thud!...The headboard split in half and fell against the wall..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...OHHHH...OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU"  we both  yelled in unison...both of us cumming and cumming hard!

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF PETE...I'M CALLIN THE DAMN COPS! THIS DON'T MAKE NO DAMN SENSE! I'M CALLIN THE MANAGER!" yelled the man.

Olivia and I had climaxed.....and were holding each other...She lie in between my legs..I was playing with her hair...Her head rested on my chest....We were drenched in sweat...

She softly stroked my penis...I was still cumming…..
We laughed about the fact that the bed was broken....


"STOP THAT LAUGHING!! GO TO SLEEP OVER THERE!" he yelled..


''Who does he think he is...our father?" I said.


"Yes Daddy...We are going to sleep!"laughed Olivia...

"DON'T GET SMART!!! GO TO SLEEP OVER THERE!" he yelled..


We both cracked up laughing...


GO TO SLEEP OVER THERE! I MEAN IT!!" he yelled..

"This is the fourth or is it the fifth time you've broken a bed with me in it???....You're going to have to cool it mister...We can't tell anybody about this..I'm serious Donnie Ray."laughed Olivia...I laughed too!

"You're gonna have to cool it...And stop being so damn sexy." I said.

"YOU BOTH ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COOL IT AND GO TO SLEEP, NOW SHUTTTT UP!" came the voice.

We ignored him....

Olivia kissed me...

"Thank you....Thank you for always making me feel special.." she said...A tear running down her face...

"If you're going to cry ,it'll be pretty hard for me to get aroused again." I joked...I was too exhausted to do anything else..
"Oh Stop it! You're too tired to do anything else.. Aren't you?"Olivia sighed...

She was wrong!
I still rolled her over and kissed her passionately...

 "Oh My Goodness Donnie Ray!!!....Didn't you get enough? You've broken the bed.." said Olivia who was exhausted herself...

"Yeah, I was just trying to make you laugh..."I said..

We were on the floor, but we made sweet love a little longer... about AN HOUR MORE! before we both nearly passed out...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Donnie Rayyyyy my gooodnesss.." cooed Olivia..as the bedsprings squeaked a little..

"I saved up for this trip.." I joked..

"Yes you diddd...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." she moaned softly...


"HEY KNOCK OFF THE TALKING...GO TO SLEEP OVER THERE! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!SHuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut UP!" he yelled..

"You shut up!" said Olivia through the walls at our neighbor....I cracked up and shushed her!


Now he was being extra...We totally ignored him and laughed some more.



We both took a nice long warm soapy shower together ,kissing and fondling each other into near hysteria..

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" I moaned..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed...


The man next door was still not happy-


"TURN THAT WATER OFF!! GO TO SLEEP!   I'VE HAD ENOUGH!! GET IN THE BED! KNOCK IT OFF!!!" he yelled..


We totally ignored him as we dried each other off and got back in the bed...


and then drifted off for some nice well deserved sleep...

The next morning!

"You really were excited last night Donnie Ray...That was almost scary..."laughed Olivia as we paid our bill at the front desk...
"Yeah I was.....WOW!! " I exclaimed and I laughed...(I took our broken bed and put it in another room and switched out the bed.).

The man next door to us was sound asleep, snoring loudly as we quietly left...

We paid our bill Early Sunday Morning and drove our rental car back to Monroe...

Olivia and I went to visit my dad...He was still working on the fishing boats, bringing shrimp to the shores.... It was a nice visit..

I loved being home again, if only for these few days...



IV-



It rained our last day in New Orleans... but that didn't stop all of us from going out to eat  and enjoying the cuisine...






 

  "Oh My God...The food here is incredible...I'll never forget this place...Thank you so much Livy.."said Yvette..

"Thank you all for coming and celebrating with us." said Olivia.
"Yessssssssssssss...Wow, I am thoroughly enjoying New Orleans.."said Gary...

"I think we all are..."said Keith Jones.
" This was great...I haven't partied this much and drank this much since, well since the last time we were down here."laughed Bee Bee.
''Me neither...I'm going to need a vacation from the vacation."said Sofia.
''We are leaving tonight and we've got tomorrow off...We can sleep all day if we like."said Kahlil.
"We've thoroughly enjoyed ourselves." said Jade..



"I've got to rest up...I'm sure there will be a lot of paperwork on my desk." said Danny.





"I'm going to sleep the entire plane ride back." said Virginia.


"Yeah, I think I will too." said Jetty. 

"I've had a lovely time down here." said Jazzy...
 
''So Have I." said Dabnis.


"I'm just glad we have Monday off." said Kayla.
"You Bennett Women have thought of everything..." said Ray,laughing...

"I have to agree with you..They really put together a nice trip for all of us.."said Jessica.
"Yes they did." said Chip.



"Olivia and Yvette have been my very best friends since law school..and I'm so glad they've included me in their lives..."said Karen, getting emotional.

"And we are still your friends to this day Karen." said Olivia.

"Bet you never thought we 'd be in your lives this long did you?" said Yvette..

She and Olivia, lived across the hall from her in law school...both in the dorms and later in an apartment building....

"No I didn't.." said Karen, managing a few tears...

"That's what good friends do."said B.L. ,putting his arms around her.

"This was a really nice Mini-Vacation..." said Natalie..
"It sure was...I took a lot of photos." said David..
"Oh so did I.." said Brooke..
"I did too. How bout you Zoey?" asked Sean..


"Oh yeah...I took alot..." said Zoey...

"Me too!" said Chip..


"We ought to do something nice for Olivia and Bev...They've done so much for all of us.." said Renee.


"Yeah for real." said Tyrell....

"You all have already done something nice for me...Your friendship means everything to Beverly and me..Having you guys living on our block and hanging out with us means everything to us." said Olivia.
 

"Here Here." I said, smiling.
''Enjoy yourselves...all of you guys being with us has made our trips all that much more enjoyable."said Beverly...
"You all made this a great Thanksgiving and beyond." said Nelson.

"Indeed!" said Josie...
In spite of it all..Paris managed to take his classes virtually throughout the entire thing.. He reluctantly stayed back in the AIR BNB, a couple of days.

"It's been fun, but I'm ready to go home now." said Bresha.
"Me too! But I won't forget New Orleans..." said Tony...

"I don't think any of us will."laughed Alfreda.


"I certainly won't..."laughed Rockland..



We were all back on the plane and headed back to Philadelphia... My new home... I'd miss New Orleans, but I was glad to be headed back to Philadelphia....My new home and my new family.