Memphis...after the meeting.

When I checked into the a different hotel after leaving our friends, the new place's staff had a split decision on my femininity.  (I was not wearing a skirt at that point.)  Doormen addressed me as "Ma'am" but the desk clerk (who really noticed only my top half and my ID), used the dreaded S-word.  That was expected.   After reaching the room, and changing, I went back through the front desk area later, and apparently the shift had changed or folks were on break, as nobody gave me a second glance...so far, so good.

I had brought along one black,  and one red-and-black patterned skirt.  With the cold weather outside, the red one never left the suitcase.  And I made a short run outside wearing two pair of opaque black tights with the skirt. - with the wind chill down in the single digits, that was too cold - I'm just not used to my legs being so exposed.   Thus I settled on wearing heavier black stirrup pants over a pair of tights, with my black skirt and my booties.  That worked...and I have two of each color of tunic tops, so that was not an issue.

My booties were a lifesaver...yes, I had flats in my suitcase.  But the soles were smooth, and there was ice/snow everywhere.  They were very slippery - falling was a real risk.   So they got worn only once...on the way home.  I spent most of the trip wearing my booties...which hid the stirrups and made it look almost like I had on a pair of leggings.  And with the lugged soles, I had much more traction...no falls.

So, it was out to sightsee a bit, on Beale Street.  It was early morning, and the ice was still present.  But I had on my skirt, with lipstick and the rest...and was addressed as Ma'am by everyone - including a panhandler.  That never ends.  Do they get better results from harassing women?  Maybe he thinks with big purses, women have lots of money to give them?  I tried completely ignoring this one, and he gave up rather quickly.

I had been told by both a cab driver and the rental agency staff that Beale St. was safe to enjoy, but unlike Broadway in Nashville and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, the safe part only goes about 3 blocks.  So I stopped at about 2 blocks.  It was fun, and there weren't many folks out at that hour of the morning - well, except for the panhandlers.  The second one addressed me properly, too.  But I wasn't in a sympathetic mood.  The low sun angle made for some interesting pictures.

Several shopkeepers addressed me correctly, and as a result I bought a few souvenirs...

And it's probably a bit unusual to be walking on Beale St. - in frigid temperatures, with low-single-digit wind blowing up under my winter coat and snow and ice on the ground.

Though this picture doesn't really show it, sidewalks - particularly on the shady side - had many slippery spots - with only sand for traction.  (The places that were shoveled well, fared the best.  Others, not so much.)  Yes, the sun was beginning to make inroads on the ice, but I had to presume things were still slippery, and wearing my booties on this trip was definitely the correct decision, even though flats would have been more feminine!

More later...

Mandy