Prof. Wormwood

The people are so friendly which makes it extra special.

I used to visit my Grandma and Grandpa in Lake Arthur twice a year at least. Every Christmas and Easter, at least, sometimes in the summer. I remember getting blue snowcones out on the Jennings highway, eating boudin from a roadside stand, playing with the soup left over from the crawfish boils, having bon fires and watching the shrimp boats in the canal, making dolls from the spanish moss. At Christmas, we would listen to the Cajun radio station and there was the funniest story about Santa Claus, but he was an alligator or something. I remember my grandparents’ friends Lou and Shirley, only Lou was the woman and Shirley was the man, and he played accordian and sang in Cajun french. I loved being there with all my aunts and uncles and their friends from school, and eventually with all my cousins too. The house was always alive with music and food and people, and I felt whole.

It’s steep and knocks the wind out of you, but the views are stunning. Bring a camera with a major zoom lens, or binoculars at least. Here’s a photo I took of the Diamondhead Lighthouse from on top (with my major zoom lens!)

The New Orleans Art Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. I found that out the hard way.

I was almost 13. We pulled into town and all I saw was eagles on everything. War Eagle this, War Eagle that. I thought it was tacky.

The other day, across a crowded room, I cheered, “War Eagle” to a fellow alumnae of Auburn University. It didn’t feel tacky at all.

I haven’t been home in over three years. It’s about time.

I just won an award to go to the ASEE Annual Conference in Honolulu! I’m so excited!