Peggy and I like to take a trip every year at Mother’s Day. It started when our son went away to college and it quickly developed into a wonderful tradition.

Last year we went to Nuevo Cancun in Mexico and had an absolute blast. We decided that we would like to go back often. Then we came home and began the journey with Peggy’s mother.

This year Peggy was not comfortable with the idea of leaving the country in case something happened with her mother, so we had to adapt. I decided we should spend the week in Cajun Mexico and go back to L’Auberge.

I know what you’re thinking — you go there all the time — and that is true. However, we have never gone for an extended stay. Our trips are always quick, two or three night excursions. This is the first time we have ever come here and stayed for a week.

When we went to Mexico last year, I realized that Peggy really does not want to spend time in the ocean. We spent virtually all our time at the pool. While the view of Lake Charles is not quite the same as looking at the Caribbean, the resort here is comfortable and beautiful. And the food and drinks are certainly comparable. More importantly, the fact that Peggy doesn’t have to worry about how we would get back to her mother if necessary immeasurably increases her ability to relax, and that is the point of the vacation.

We’re not telling anybody where we’re going. We’re staying here just like we stayed in Mexico last year and leaving our phones alone. I can’t make the reason for her constant travel back and forth to Dallas go away, but I can make sure that she gets the opportunity to go away, at least for a little while.

And I have asked our son to drive over from Baton Rouge on Mother’s Day as a surprise for his Mama.

We couldn’t do that in Mexico…