Back a few years my husband and I were in New Orleans for Jazz Fest and having a wonderful time. The music, the food and the fun were all first rate. The crowds no where near as thick as Mardi Gras had been 2 years earlier, so we could actually see the sights and get into the clubs and restaurants.

Our hotel was right in the French Quarter, about a block off of Jackson Square. It had been built in the late 1700's as a private home, then converted and updated over the years. You know the type, small oddly shaped rooms, large amounts of charm and character. It even had a private courtyard where you could sit and enjoy your morning coffee.

Unlike our first 3 days there, our forth and last day turned off cloudy, cool and rainy. Steady rain, alternating with periods of light sprinkles when you could dash from lounge to shops to restaurants alternating with heavy rains washing the sidewalks clean and filling the gutters like a rushing stream. Looking out the restaurant window was like watching an old film noire piece on tv. You expected any moment to see Bogey or Peter Lorie turn the corner in a trench coat and fedora.

The rain gave us an excuse to call it an early evening that didn't sound like an excuse. We were tired after several long days but didn't want to admit it and sound like old fogeys. We had an early flight out, but that sounds like a cop out. Pouring rain is an excuse everyone understands. No one wants to walk into a classy joint looking like a drowned rat.

So we snuggled under the covers against the increasing chill of the evening and called it a night. About 1:00 a.m. I tried to get up and found I was tucked in so tightly I could barely move. Now I'm not used to that, I toss, turn and travel all night long. Just figured Hubby had thought I was getting cold and tucked me in. Nice man. I kicked myself loose, got up and took care of things, then went back to sleep.

When I woke up in the morning it was the same thing, sheet and blanket pulled tight and tucked under the mattress. I shook Hubby's shoulder to wake him. He rolled over and thanked me, saying he had been getting chilly until I tucked him in. Wait a minute, I didn't tuck anyone in and Hubby says he didn't even get up all night! Who or what tucked us in so tightly?

As we were checking out half an hour later we told the lady at the front desk about what had happened during the night. Her eyes got big and everyone else in the lobby became quiet. Finally the lady collected herself and said "Oh my, didn't anyone tell you that your room is supposed to be haunted?" No, no one said a word! What a trip!

I have a New Orleans Haunted Hotel story to share, although it is more funny than anything else. The last time I visited New Orleans was 7 years ago. My husband and I went down for a long weekend with my sister and brother-in-law. We stayed in an old hotel in the French Quarter. We had a very early flight home, and had to be up and in the lobby by 5am. So, my husband and I, bleary eyed, met up with my sister and her husband in the lobby to check out and catch our shuttle to the airport. We were all just sitting there, tired and trying not to fall alseep when my brother-in-law, just as calm as can be, says "I saw a lady in our room last night". My sister and I almost fell off our seats ! Now we were really awake. He proceeds to tell us how he got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. As he was walking towards the bathroom, he saw a woman walking towards him. He said she had on a big, wide, old fashioned dress so he moved to the side so she could get by him, and he even said "excuse me". We could not believe it! He was so calm when he described her and the experience. He used the bathroom and went back to sleep ! We were all freaking out- "you saw a ghost and you just went back to sleep !" The front desk manager was listening to our conversation the entire time. I asked him if the hotel was haunted, and he just gave me this funny look and turned away. I took that as a "yes", and do not doubt for a minute that what he said was true. We still laugh about it all these years later because of the nonchalant way my brother-in-law handled the whole situation.