ON THE WAY TO NEW ORLEANS

The genius and I are on our way to the Big Easy today to study the mathematics of some bridges, reservoirs, and the famous levees. And of course, we will find time to eat a few good meals.

When my sisters and their husbands heard we were going, they asked to tag along at their own expense, of course. So we are happy to have them with us.

On the way down we stopped in Batesville, Mississippi, to help our Aunt Fay celebrate her 107th birthday which is on July 1st. As I’ve said before, she is my father’s twin sister and is the second of his fourteen siblings to exceed 100 years. (The oldest sister, Aunt Bertha, lived to be 104.) One other remaining sibling, Tommie who is 94, was there, also.

Seventy relatives attended the fete as the two sisters held court at their table. Many pictures were snapped and a huge cake was unveiled. Aunt Fay had no trouble blowing out the three candles.

But most of us there agreed that for the first time Aunt Fay did not look as chipper as she had in the past. I really would be surprised if she makes it to 108.

Tommie, on the other hand, looked great! She was all dressed up in a pink dress with long pearls around her neck. She told me she was so “proud” that the genius had come down with me. It has been many years since he has been to Mississippi to see my relatives, and like Tommie, they all seemed pleased to see him.

We will be staying at a quaint hotel in the French Quarter so we should save on gas at least to eat our meals. Hopefully, we will not have to drive too far to see all the “math” sights.

Hilda, one of our cousins who has the family sense of humor, said she was afraid that we would get into trouble, knowing us, but if we get arrested, to call her and she would come bail us out!!