Today I have been sober for 9 months. No hangovers, no leaving my debit card at the bar and no regretting what I said to anyone. This isn’t my first attempt at cutting booze out of my life. There were other long stints and sober-versaries in the past but 9 months ago I quit a job I really loved. My boss and I had some irreconcilable differences and no one higher up was coming to my aid. So, I decided to leave. While I was sweeping my broken heart up off the floor my buddy Matt called and invited me to New Orleans for his birthday. I had never been and I really wanted to go. Especially with Matt. He’s adventurous and considerate, both things you want in a travel partner. Plus no one in the world is more fun to eat with than Matt Taylor. I knew if I went we would drink and I thought.. “Fuck it. That’s fine with me.” And it honestly was. We showed up just as hurricane Barry started dancing around in the gulf. The city flooded. The water was thigh high at times but everyone just kept moving. They seemed unphased and it was inspiring. We waded out into the garden district and splashed through graveyards. We got caught in the rain on Magazine and Eric Cook, the owner of Gris Gris invited us into his restaurant to ride it out. The place was closed due to flooding but he showed us around and told us ghost stories in the private dining room on the third floor. It was a dream trip that went nothing at all like I thought it would. The drinking isn’t what stands out about it but it was definitely part of it. I have to say that the mornings were a little rough but the trip provided me with closure in many ways. I feel like I finally let a part of myself go while I was in New Orleans. A part I just didn’t need anymore and that maybe she’s still there, a little tipsy, playing in the rain. I don’t struggle with wanting to drink. I feel like a lot of what I drank to forget has been acknowledged and addressed. These days I crave and prioritize the clarity that comes with not drinking. I am happier and I am grateful. In honor of my milestone and of my buddy Matt I made these carrot cake waffles. No one loves carrots more than Matt and I wish I could have shared them with him today.

Day 91: Golden Milk Carrot Cake waffles with dates, bananas and hazelnuts. FTW.

P.S. this is my favorite picture from the graveyard we sloshed though while the city was busy mopping up the rain.