After about 3 months... I finally make it back to New Orleans. The flight was.... odd.
Sat in front of a family with a young toddler and a newborn. I was kinda glad that it was me. I wouldn't have minded any noise or crying. Let me bear that cross.
Ironically... another dad sat next to me. I know he was a dad cuz I saw his wall paper on his phone. As we started to roll to take off... the todder behind the middle seat started kicking the chair. Uncontrollably. I thought, "The parents will do something, right?" But they didn't. Didn't hear a peep. And the kicking continued. Not sure what I would've done... even as patient as I am... I don't know if I can stand constant kicking of the chair. And the dude finally said, in an annoyed yet polite way, "Can you please stop the kicking? Thank you."
Not bad. Forceful, but had the decency to say "please" and "thank you." I know parents can't control everything... but that was definitely something they could've controlled.
Then as we landed.... the lady and the toddler got up and crowded in the aisle way. They were rarin' to get out of the plane. Slowly... the people in front of us got up row by row... left then right. And the mom and the toddler showed NO SIGNS of yielding. The same dad whispered, somewhat loudly, to me, "So much for airplane etiquette." I didn't know what to say. Again... this was something the parents could control. But it's a 2 year old that's been cramped up for 4.5 hours. She wanted to stretch her legs. I simply shrugged and said, "It's alright. Whatever."
Then it got to the folks in front of us... the mom and toddler didn't even yield to them. They sped and ran. I slowly waited till they were done. Then I wailed till the folks on the other side of the aisle got up and left. Then I got up.... I looked at the dad who had the newborn in his hands. His wife and daughter ditched them. I told him, "Go ahead." So he can catch up with this family. And he so nobly said, "No.. it's ok. You go." And I replied... "No.. you go." And he said, "Nah.. it's ok." I didn't want to fight him and further delay our deboarding. I guess the loud whisper worked. But to what end????
Anyhoo... finally got to the car. Texted my colleague I won't join them for dinner and I made a stop at Pesces. Ahhhh... home sweet home.
Got the gumbo... which was extremely salty. Will probably avoid it next time.
The fried oysters and ground shrimp spicy pasta on the other hand... to die for!!!!

And that's why I keep coming back.