Southern hospitality

Let me tell you friends, you’ve never known hospitality until you’ve stayed with a good friend in a southern city. For M and the Mister, it was our vera, vera good friend (and M’s Theta sister), Ms. S in Mobile, Ala. Boy did she roll out the red carpet for us during our two-day stay (one must never wear out their welcome, because as Benjamin Franklin put it, “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.”)

Upon arrival we were greeted at the door with hugs and a libation. Hostess and guests then exchanged happy little gifts (we came bearing a couple of bottles of Texas barbecue sauce and Ms. S surprised M with a lovely little scarf — a fave item to hoard collect). After a few moments to freshen up from our travels we were whisked away to an early evening soiree, followed by dinner then a nightcap.

The next morning, our hostess had to work, but she left a note arming us with directions to the nearest coffee purveyor, Cream and Sugar, which is in the verdant Oakleigh Garden District. We treated Ms. S to lunch as a thank you on day two and came away with a list of suggestions for things to do downtown that afternoon, including bike riding, art galleries, touring the Cathedral and museums, as well as notes on a few nearby cafes. We took in some art at Space 301 Contemporary Art and Education Center, then had a pick me up at Serda’s.

M's tasty mocha

Opting for museums, cafes, the Cathedral and art galleries gave us much to discuss during a casual dinner at Ms. S’s neighborhood Irish pub, Callaghan’s Irish Social Club.

Oh how we heart Callaghan's!

The next day before we turned our chariot in the direction of New Orleans, we picked up our room, tended to the bed linens and made a sweep of the house to a) make sure we didn’t forget anything and b) leave everything as we found it. We bid farewell to Ms. S over lunch at Bienville Club, which offers striking views of the causeway and the USS Alabama.

As always, we came away from Mobile feeling rested, pampered and swathed in gentility.

The takeaway from this entry: When you stay with a friend, don’t show up empty-handed; offer to pay for a meal or two; clean up after yourself; and send a thank you note and, or gift.

Cheers!