Dear Journal~

Louisiana Sandusky here.  I hope this finds y'all in fine fettle.  As for me, I am doing great!

My husband, Bill, and many of our children are with me.  Right now, though, they have abandoned me for the carnival rides (the kids) or looking at the arts and crafts booths and displays (Bill and the more disabled children).  They have left me to fend for myself for several hours.  LOL

We are at the Breaux Bridge (Louisiana) Crawfish Festival.  We go every year; it's an annual tradition.  Myself, I started going when I was ten years old, and I've been going just about every year since.  I then indocronated my husband and my kids to my festival frenzy; they now enjoy it almost as much as I do.  I think I brainwashed them ...  LOL

We have been hearing some awesome Cajun (and zydeco) music.  Last night, as an example, we saw Steve Riley and his "Mamou Playboys"; our daughter, Ronee', opened for them.  She did a fantastic job!  Her new band, "CAJUN HEAT!", did a wonderful job in backing her up!  I was very proud of them all!  The audience (when they weren't dancing, that is) loved them!  They were a hit!

In addition to the music, we've also been noshing on Cajun food (crawfish fixed any way you like!) and guzzling on water or sodas.  The kids have been burning calories going from ride to ride and just running around.  They are all having a blast.  So are we!

The weather is fantastic: bright, pristine-blue skies, abundant sunshine, nary a cloud in the sky, temps in the middle-to-upper eighties.  Just perfect; you couldn't have asked for better festival weather!

It's nice back home in Tennessee, as well.  Quite a difference from one year ago, when Nashville had catastrophic flooding that resulted in twelve deaths and massive damage to the tourist industry (including the Grand Ole Opry House, which got flooded, the first time in 36 years; it's since been repaired and is up and running strong!).  I will never forget it as long as I live.  When I saw the news reports (and then the damage upon returning home), it broke my heart!

Well, my husband wants to listen to some zydeco music, so who am I to stop him??  LOL I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Louisiana Sandusky signing off! Take care and may God bless you always!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee by way of Louisiana, Louie May.  :)