New Foods and Old Friends

1., 2., and 3.

Hush Puppies, and pig sandwiches with cole slaw! All this at Wilburs Barbecue! Yumm-o!

The other pictures are Joe and Judy Rugierro in New Bern, North Carolina

What a nice day we have had in spite of all the worry and concern we have over events in San Diego. We continue tonight to be concerned about our family and friends who are in the midst of the fire storm. Lisa and her family are still with friends and hope to know by tomorrow when they will be able to return to their home which we hope has escaped destruction. Judi's granddaughter, Danielle, and our friend, Michelle Tinsley Horner, we haven't heard from. We know they are evacuated but how have their homes fared? Our prayers for everyone involved in this disaster.

Our drive from Chapel Hill, North Carolina this morning was pleasant under cloudy skies. We stopped near New Bern for lunch at Wilber's Barbecue. From the crowded parking lot we figured the food would be ok and it was more than that! It was very casual and from the moment we sat down and a basket of hush puppies was set before us to the moment we paid the TOTAL bill of $14.58 we knew we had chosen the best place. The hush puppies were warm and deliscious. They are just fried bits of sweetened cornbread but very satisfying. We talked to the waitress about what would be a good sampling of Wilber's food and she suggested the "pig sandwiches with cole slaw". Sounded good to us so soon we were diving into these sandwiches and the cole slaw was piled on the pig and what a yummy combination! The specially seasoned french fries were perfect and iced tea and cokes kept being refilled. Like little porkers we got back in the car and continued on to New Bern.

Arrived in the lovely waterside home of Joe and Judy Ruggiero. Joe and Lee's husband Leo had started as work friends many years ago and the bi-coastal friendship of the two couples grew over the years. It was an afternoon of reminiscing, sharing stories, and catching up with the latest news of families. We were shown around their boat which is due to leave for a sail around the Bahamas this winter and then settled in to their very comfortable sun room. The next thing we knew the sun was going down and before it was dark we drove around the area to see where Joe and Judy spend their time when they aren't in Connecticut with their large family. Their 13 grandchildren keep things hopping and New Bern is sort of a quiet harbor. Topped off the evening with dinner at the New Bern Outback. Thanks so much, Joe and Judy, for a wonderful day.

They even escorted us to the motel so we weren't driving around lost as happens sometime. Jumped on the internet to see what was going on with the fires, talked to Lisa, and now I think it is time for bed. On to Charleston, South Carolina tomorrow. Nighty night from the Girls