We "shopped until we dropped" for two days. We had booked a room at The Christmas Inn. And there were plenty of restaurants to enjoy as well. Paula Deen has just opened a $20M complex close by, so we had to try her fare. It certainly did not disappoint.

Belle mostly bought clothes for work; and I on the other hand, bought clothes that made me look like I was in my forties as opposed to my sixties. I wondered if I would ever find love again, and Isabella and I talked about this in a "running discussion" over the next four days.

The days would go too fast. In Charlotte, we stayed at the Aloft hotel. Trendy and new, it was a little psychedelic for me, but Isabella usually had a reservation at Aloft in whatever city she was traveling to as she met with CEO's and CFO's around the country to discuss their current and future operations. I could tell that she was going to hugely successful at T. Rowe Price in Baltimore.

We talked about the city she lived in. She enjoyed going to Orioles baseball game and was typically given tickets by the firm at least once every two weeks. There was a little bar close to the ballpark; Pickles, that she frequented and there was also Fells Point nearby. This was a slew of bars that one could "hop" around during the evening, and my little Isabella loved to dance. She had come to like this activity very much. There wasn't much of it at William & Mary, in the way of things to do, and she mostly focused on her studies during her time there.

In Charlotte, she somehow got me to go dancing. I felt too old to go, but at the same time I realized that Belle and I would not have this opportunity to really bond all that often in the future. I decided to "roll the dice", and I tagged along. I "dressed to the nines" so as not to embarrass her. Not slutty, but mildly inappropriate for my age. I was going for that forties look again. Prior to going to a club, we had eaten dinner at Bentley's. This was the higlight of the evening for me and the dancing for Belle.

I managed to stay out till 1:00 AM, and had to cash it in. Bella stayed behind, as she was talking to a private equity guy; a young fellow of thirty and a little more mature than Belle, but they seemed to create a bond. I was happy for her; and more happy when she returned to Aloft alone.