Walking Hard: An Afternoon Stroll

Yesterday was absolutely wonderful.  

The weather was splendid-- it was neither too warm nor too cool, the humidity was in check, the sun was shining.  After  getting off of work (we only slave until noon on Saturdays), I went for a long walk in the French Quarter.  

I wandered aimlessly down Decatur Street, stopping in a bar to try a Granny Smith apple and brie sandwich.  I strolled along the river and watched barges heading south towards the Gulf.  I stepped across Esplanade into the Marigny, stopping at Cafe Rose Nicaud for an iced coffee.

As I was walking down Chartres, crossing Esplanade to get back into the Quarter, happily sipping my iced coffee, I noticed two women walking with a man in a silly hat.  It was the type you would expect to see Mark Twain, or Colonel Sanders wearing to a plantation picnic.  "Goodness," I thought to myself.  "Who would wear such a silly hat?"  

I'll tell you who would do such a thing!  John C. Reilly!  John C. Reilly would stroll down Esplanade with two women while wearing a silly plantation picnic hat.

I thought for a moment about stalling my aimless wandering and following John C. Reilly, to see where a funny and talented man walks when he walks in the French Quarter.  But I decided not to do so.  

"Joshua...Joshua," I spoke to myself in a commanding way.  "If you were John C. Reilly, and you were walking down Esplanade Avenue, would you want to be followed by a stranger with an iced coffee?  Would you?"  I conceded to myself that I, indeed, would not.  So I walked on.