My disappointment in not having stayed out all night last night evaporates when my phone rings at 6:15 am. My consulting job intrudes, someone thought they were going to leave me a message and were surprised when I actually answered. I stay up and take some pictures of the sunrise. It's my last day here and I don't want to miss anything…
After a wonderful breakfast at a croissant shop across the street from the hotel, we walk to the D-Day Museum, which is a pretty decent hike. I am surprised at how much I actually truly love this museum. All of the docents are WWII Veterans, and they have an amazing wealth of experience and perspective. I feel like I learn more in one day than in years of history classes. Parts of it are definitely sad, I sort of hate looking at all of the artillery, at how many ways humans have figured out how to kill each other. But there are some really amazing stories as well, I attend a lunchtime presentation on the North Platte Canteen, and am moved to tears.
Luke's planning on cooking me dinner after his class tonight, so I eat a quarter of a muffaletta sandwich that, in retrospect, may have included a little salmonella on the side… Then we take an evening "Haunted History Tour of the French Quarter" (as seen on CNN, Sci-Fi and the History Channel!) I like the history, not sure how I feel about the hauntings, though G is convinced our hotel room is haunted.
When Luke picks me up later to make some of his famous burgers, I am already feeling kind of sick to my stomach… I hang with Luke's Teach NOLA crew, and one of them asks if I have eaten anywhere in New Orleans that day, he has pretty much heard of people getting food poisoning from everywhere. I eat half of a burger, which hurts Luke's pride and feelings, though it was in fact good, I just couldn't eat much. We hang out, I ambush Luke and Jackie to take a picture to bring back home per my mom's instructions. When Luke drives me back to the hotel I get kinda choked up to leave again… Wish I could stay another day, really, but it's not entirely up to me.