As many of you know, I just returned from a several day tour of the Old Confederacy.

I took Mom to her sister’s place in Biloxi, MS, dropped her off and then went on to New Orleans to visit my son, Jack.

I had a very good time.

I’m always surprised when I go Southeast to remember just how beatiful the South remains. Yes, yes, there’s a lot of urban sprawl and stupid franchises and blah blah blah, but, in the main, there are huge swaths of territory covered in very large trees, rolling hills, lakes and rivers.

It was a lot easier to appreciate the beauty when the weather is so nice — 75 degrees and a slight breeze. Later on, when it’s 80 and the humidity is 90, it will be much more difficult to come back with such a rosy report.

New Orleans surprised me. There are large areas that haven’t been touched since Katrina, still devastated and still abandoned. There are other areas where houses have been redone and the community is vibrant.

Jack took me mostly into an area called the Triangle or the Marigny Triangle, which is near the French Quarter. It’s a very happening neighborhood with restaurants, diners, music venues and out of sight of the tourists. I ate a great deal of shellfish with Cajun seasoning. We went to a little park that was having a neighborhood arts and crafts festival and a local garage band played as young couples pushed the strollers around the one-square block of trees and grass.

Even though I spent two days with Jack, I’m already missing him. As Harry Connick Jr. sings: Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?

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