Driving to Key West

For some reason I decided to drive from Houston to Key West this time instead of flying. Actually it was quite a trip down memory lane with a stop off in New Orleans, then the drive across Florida and the beautiful trip down Highway 1 through the Keys. It's hard for me to believe that I have been gone from Florida nearly five years, and from New Orleans for thirteen. This trip gave me a chance to reminisce and reconnect, and come down to my little piece of paradise for just the second time in a year.

Although New Orleans drove me crazy when I lived there, there is now enough time and distance for me to understand it's positive influence on me both personally and professionally. It was there that I broke away from my roots and learned to be a leader on my own at Ochsner, not living in the shadow of the big Methodist Hospital, to many still being the cub administrator even after nearly fourteen years there. I had the great benefit of working with and for Dr Frank Riddick, and meeting many interesting and colorful and talented people that I am still friends with after all of these years [read Eileen Skinner, Frank Campbell, Dr Riddick, Julie Rodrigue just to name a few]. Although my time there was relatively brief, just two and a half years, I was left with an incredible kaliedescope of memories, images, tastes, smells, feelings and friends to fully appreciate the essence of the Big Easy. Its sad that it doesnt have that same feeling or depth that it once held, for good and for bad, but I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to experience it from the inside out.

I am now sitting by my pool in Key West with a half smile on my face thinking about all of these experiences. In many ways Key West and New Orleans have a lot in common. More on that later.