Oklahoma City in 24 Hours

The writing prompt for this challenge is:

What's the perfect way to spend twenty-four hours somewhere you know well?

Hm, I'll do my best!

Rain Dayze, regarding the contest.

So the question posed to me is: what's my perfect way to spend twenty-four hours somewhere that I know well? Hm, that has an interesting answer, to be honest. As there are various ways in which I could respond.

Why do I say that? Well, I don't live in that place currently. However, I'll answer the question with a hypothetical, perfect-case scenario. One in which I'm back in Oklahoma with my family.

Our day began at 10:00 AM after I checked my mother out of her long-term care facility for the day. She felt joy and excitement about the wonderful day we had planned.

She told me that she had dressed in her favorite pink and beige flowered Bohemian dress, and braided her long blonde hair with the help of her 'favorite' caregiver.

These little things made me smile, knowing that she valued today this much.

"Did you sleep well, Momma?" I asked, pushing her wheelchair to my rented ramp-accessible minivan.

"I sure did!" She beamed, clutching her purse in her lap. "Although, I had to skip breakfast this morning. I wanted to save my appetite for you and Chrissy!"

A smile graced my lips."You didn't have to do that! You could've had a muffin or something small so your blood sugar wouldn't drop."

She waved her hand nonchalantly. "Ah, you worry too much! I had a coffee and a banana. That's all I need for now!"

Not wanting to argue about her health, I helped her into the vehicle and drove to our favorite hangout area: Oklahoma City (or OKC for locals).

When we arrived, my sister Chrissy, wearing a pink sundress, greeted us with a bright smile. "Looking good, Momma!"

Momma flipped her braid back dramatically. "Thank you, sweetie! Rain and I wanted to match right, honey?"

Chrissy gave me a knowing look. I smiled awkwardly. Us wearing similar dresses was completely coincidental.

"That's right, Momma. Isn't it fun to match?" I agreed with a nervous giggle.

"Sure is. Now let's go, I'm starving!" Momma cheered, rubbing her stomach.

We drove around for about half an hour, chatting about what 'sounds good to eat', and we finally decided upon our favorite lunch spot:

Bourbon St. Cafe.

This wonderful Cajun/Creole restaurant opened on November 12th, 2000, and has been a cultural staple for downtown OKC (affectionately known as Bricktown because of its old red brick buildings) ever since.

Momma loved this place, as she and Daddy went on a date during its opening weekend and fell in love with it immediately.

The three of us sat outside by the River Walk, watching the Water Taxi chauffeur people back and forth.

Our server arrived with menus; a young lady with a bright smile asked, "What can I get y'all?"

Chrissy and I ordered sweet teas while Momma mischievously wanted a Bloody Mary.

"Momma, it's not even noon!" I giggled, playfully swatting her with the menu. "Plus, it says they don't serve it until four on the menu."

She frowned. "Oh, well, a tomato juice then. I'll just pretend."

We shared a laugh as we placed our lunch orders. I got the Black Magic Catfish with a side salad, Chrissy got the Satchmo's Salmon, while Momma clamored over the Louisiana Shrimp and Grits with crab cakes as an add-on.

For two hours, we joked around, reminisced, and indulged in the zesty, succulent flavors of old-fashioned Cajun cooking.

Something that none of the three of us could replicate with our combined cooking skills, although we tried many times!

After paying our bill, I asked Momma, "What're you in the mood for now?"

"Hm," she contemplated, draining her tomato juice. "Oh, a movie sounds lovely!

Chrissy nodded. "Yeah, we haven't seen one in a while. I'm in!"

With a smile, I replied, "Me too!"

All of us pile into our vehicles and take off. Thankfully, the theatre wasn't too far away.

Our next destination was Harkins Theatre 16.

It was called this because there were approximately sixteen other locations throughout Oklahoma. This was our favorite one as it was closer than the others.

This location opened on October 1st, 2004, and has been a tourist trap ever since. Give or take a small drop in popularity in 2019, during a city-wide illness outbreak.

Momma and Daddy would hand us enough money for bus fare, tickets to see whatever we wanted, and would tell us to have fun.

Later on, we realized this was so they could have 'adult alone time', even so, I remember those times fondly.

Once we got to the theatre, Momma saw a poster that made her squeal. "Oh my God, they're replaying the first three Harry Potter! Can we do it?"

Chrissy and I looked at our phones, inwardly grimacing at how close it would bring her to curfew.

But for the sake of her happiness, we said, "Heck yeah, let's do it!"

We purchased three tickets, sodas and popcorn for the matinee, and settled in for seven hours of Harry Potter.

God bless Momma's heart; she fell asleep halfway through the second movie. After four bathroom trips and two refills, she must've been exhausted.

As we finished the marathon, we awoke Momma by applauding with the crowd in the room. Celebrating the majestic beauty and magical adventure of teenage wizards and witches.

Exiting the theatre Momma exclaimed with joy, "Oh, that was so much fun!"

"It was!" I agreed with a yawn. "It's getting a bit late, want to head home?"

She pouted. "Not really, but I guess we got to, huh?"

Chrissy nodded dutifully. "Unfortunately, yeah, but I had a blast!"

"Me too, sweetie, me too!" she giggled, yawning dramatically. "Oh, can we make one last stop? My treat?"

We smiled and answered in tired unison, "Sure, where to?"

Momma pointed across the street from the theatre and announced, "There!"

She was pointing at our last stop for the night, Whiskey Chicks: Cocktail Kitchen

This lovely place resides in one of the oldest buildings in Bricktown, built in 1906. However, it hasn't always been a wonderful pub grub bar with delightful cocktails.

Over the years it has been a resting place for Native Americans, a stable for the Wells Fargo stagecoaches, and various warehouse businesses. It fell on hard times after 1917, and the area became vacant for a while.

In the year 2000, it became a popular historical tourist spot, which reignited interest in the location and increased its value.

Then, on August 2nd, 2011, it opened to a booming full house.

Daddy took Momma on a date there once not long after they opened, but couldn't handle physically being out and about too much, so they ended up slow dancing to a few Johnny Cash songs and then went home with virgin Pina Coladas.

He promised to take her out again on their anniversary. Unfortunately, he passed away before that could happen.

"Momma, you know we can't drink, it's too late! Plus Chrissy and I are driving!" I snorted, tapping her shoulder playfully.

"I know that!" she huffed with a smirk. "We'll get virgin cocktails this time. But next Girl's Day, we're getting proper drinks!"

Chrissy shook her head as she laughed at her abrasiveness. "Okay, deal."

The three of us stood at the bar, chatting with our bartender Linda, as we waited for our drinks.

A few men whistled at us. Momma said proudly, "These two are married, but I'm single!"

Me and Chrissy facepalmed ourselves in embarrassment. Oh well, she's our mom, what could we do?

No matter how much she embarrassed us, we still loved her with all our hearts.

With our virgin Tropical Thunder cocktails in hand, the three of us saluted, "To girls day!"

Thus ending a wonderful day in a city that I know well, with people that I love more than life itself!