A Flurry of Activity . . .

Yes, a flurry of activity, sounds redundant but it is true. As February matures past the mid point all kinds of things are going to happen.

Mardi Gras will be going on full bore in New Roads and New Orleans. New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration are the oldest in Louisiana by far but is followed by a little Town of New Roads which has celebrated with its own parades since the 1920s or so. Today there are two parades in New Roads, one before lunch and one after. Traditionally, the morning parade is sponsored by black organizations, and the afternoon one is sponsored by white organizations. Sometimes the marching bands, and integral part of the parades march in both. Last year, it was the Southern University Marching Band, and it put on a outstanding show in both parades.

New Roads Lions Club organizes the afternoon parade. And it is the major money maker for that civic organization. Schools traditionally sponsor floats, clubs sponsor floats and there are a few comic floats sponsored by locals. At one time the Baton Rouge TV stations and local celebs did the emceeing, today the guest maybe anyone. Both parades have a King, Queen and court. And like New Orleans, they to have a ball that night.

But we are passing all the celebrations. We move on to the family birthdays starting with James' birthday and prime rib dinner. Amanda Louise will drive in from LSU, Katie will come with boy friend in tow, Chris will drive over from Dallas and James etal from Flower-Mound. Not sure if Georgie will come but I suppose she will be prevailed upon - Georgie does not like to eat beef, she'll take Turkey any day. We will have a grand salad and lots of wine.

Jamie will stay the night Saturday. We always enjoy his stays. He is a good fellow and causes no problems and his grandmother just loves it.

The following week, Grandma packs up and heads to the Frozen Nawth for long weekend stay with young Will in Madison, Wisconsin. And no, the lakes have not thawed out yet which means at best the local Madison temperatures will be 32 degrees or less! But Grandma confesses to liking winter (and visiting Will, Jake and Anne even more).

Will, I am sure has grown and Grandma will revel dealing with him for a couple of days.

Grandma, charges back to wash her laundry and pack up for the family business meeting in New Roads. We will meet at the plantation for the annual meeting (and Morrison family gathering). The drive over will be boring, we stop in Natchotoches for gas and plow on into New Roads via I-49 to US 190 across the Atchafalya River and Morganza Spillway bridges.

Additionally, there will be some planning for the 4h of July Gremillion gathering. Fire works on False River is a sight to see. And we expect to see Anne, Jake and Will plus Hildy and Tom Neujahr on the fourth. I am sure we will see Mark, Richard and Paul over the March 7th weekend too.

It will be good to see the family once again at the Plantation. There will be one less as Aunt Bobbie has passed on. It is all our generation now.