A Visitor

We don't get a whole lot of visitors in d'Oasis - just the random traveler who gets lost off Rte. 10 and finds their way to the center of town.  But we were graced with a visitor last night all the way from out west.  One of my good friends, Ginny Sarah Beth Pickles, and I went to college together.  The town refers to our extended studies as the time those two girls went to that uppity university in the north.  Well, I graduated cum laude with a degree in political science with a minor in folk art.  I also got my Mrs. but that story is for a later date.  

Well, Pickles (as we call her) got expelled our junior year due to a hazing incident at the Tri-Omiccron house.  But her big sister from sorority days came to pay Pickles a visit and who knew that such delightful persons came from those western states.  Carmen Newbury is a delightful spirit with piercing blue eyes.  In the old days, my granny would've said such eyes hid dark witchcraft secrets.  But granny had once visited New Orleans and was scared by a card reader in the park who had these piercing blue eyes surrounded by a redness beyond Christiandom.

Miss Newbury rolled into town in her rented Audi convertible with the top down and hair just flowing.  It was like one of those epic slow motion scenes in a film from the 1950's.  She pulled to the curb, tossed her hair back and asked Miss Viola Jessup if she knew where Ginny Sarah Beth Pickles resided.  Viola had never heard the word resided and it took some translation to finally get to the matter at hand.  Viola finally giggled and pointed Miss Newbury on her way.  Carmen flashed Viola a genuine smile tinged with a hint of perplexity.  She sped away to Pickle's house, but within five minutes Ginny knew she had a visitor via the umpteen phone calls she received from downtown business owners. 

After a reunion dinner, Pickles announced that they must visit Aunt Gibby's "Dizzy Bubbles" so Carmen could meet the locals.  As is custom in d'Oasis, visitors are always dragged to Gibby's establishment to be shown off.  Meemaw and I had the best seat in the house and Pickles knew that she and Carmen MUST find their place at the two open chairs at our table.  I had only met Carmen once during the college days and had always been interested in the goings on at that  sorority house of ill-repute.  Pickles and Carmen regaled us with college memories and then Miss Newbury told us all about San Clamente, California.  Our conversation and laughter spread into the wee hours of the morning and the other d'Oasians made sure to pull chairs close by to catch whatever could be caught.

Aunt Gibby even pulled out a bottle of moonshine that she saved for special occasions.  At the end of the night, we had to call Hoke Jon-Jon Ramirez, the only cab driver in town, to make several trips to and fro...dropping of d'Oasis residents who'd imbibed more than beyond their limits.  Needless to say, most of the downtown businesses opened late that next day.  Though Carmen seemed to rebound in a lovely disposition.  I suppose it can be assumed that those west coasters are more adept at drinking the devil's brew.  I, myself, am having a hard time seeing the letters click by as I type this.  I think a nap is in order.

Until tomorrow....Don't be tacky...Peggy!