Dear Journal~

Good morning!  How are y'all doing?  I am sleepy; just woke up from a 2-hour nap; we are currently on the road, "we" meaning Bill, myself, and the kids who still remain with us.  We are  headed towards Breaux Bridge, Louisiana (my birthplace!); we are going to attend the annual Crawfish Festival.  We go every year.

It's like going  home (for me, anyway ...).  We enjoy it!

Every year it seems the Crawfish Festival gets bigger and better.  This year promises to be no exception.  We enjoy hearing (and dancing to) the Cajun (and zydeco) music and we enjoy the tantalizing smell of crawfish fixed over a dozen different ways.  We enjoy the craft booths and running into old friends that live in that part of the country.

I am hoping that Johnny and his wife, Rebecka, will be there, but with their health being the way it is, it's questionable.  They have both been doing good, so I don't see why they can't go.  I am praying that continues.  (If they would go, their live-in caretaker would go with them, in case any problems should happen to arise.  I pray they DON'T!)  Johnny has always enjoyed the Crawfish Festival.

I am sure that we will see Ronee' and Michael there.  Ronee' is scheduled to perform there, on the Heritage Stage on Saturday, so we will probably see one another.  I know she will be glad to see us, her family!  We do miss having her (and Johnny) home; our home is just not the same without either one of them!

We left Nashville around 5:00; it's now a little after 11, according to the illuminated clock on the nightstand next to the bed.  We are traveling in our bus; that way we can fit everybody (and the medical equipment, plus clothes, diapers, and food and drink) in and not worry because everything is within reach for Bill and myself.  We are hurting financially: it cost over $200.00 to fill our vehicle, but we are trusting God to provide some extra money we can have for the trip and back.

He's never let us down yet!

The weather is beautiful: sunny and pleasant, with highs projected to be in the 70's back home, and in the eighties when we get to Louisiana.  For the festival, there's a small chance of afternoon and everning showers and thunderstorms each day.  I hope and pray not; I hate it when we go somewhere and we have to go find a place to get out of the rain!  

We will probably eat somewhere in Jackson, Mississippi, if we get there by two o'clock.  Probably at a Golden Corral or Shoney's, something like that, someplace we're familiar with.  

I am surprised that Roberto didn't give us any arguments when we got him up this morning.  He is nearly 20 (will be 20 in a few months), but he hates change in his routine; yet this morning, he was suprisingly agreeable.  I guess he sensed that something special was going to happen, so he woke up, happy as a lark, which was highly surprising.  Usually when there is a disruption in his routine, he will try to dismantle the house or scream his head off for hours.  It's really not pleasant when Roberto goes on one of his autistic-driven tirades!

I was very proud of him and told him so; he greeted me with a smile and a hug.  Such a sweet young man!  

I just hope Roberto can handle the crowds at the Crawfish Festival!

I also hope that Akihiko and Camille can handle the craziness!  Akihiko won't know how to handle it and Camille ... I don't know ... she is rather delicate; we'll have to watch her like a hawk ... (Camille has heart problems and Down's syndrome.)  I will also have to keep an eagle eye on Akihiko, to make sure he doesn't run off, which he has already shown us he is famous for doing.

Well, I am going to get myself something to eat; I am suddenly very hungry as the smell of bacon and toast hangs in the air.  Someone was kind enough to make breakfast.  Once I find out who it was, I'll be sure to thank him (or her).  I will write in here again when we are in Louisiana; until then, this is Louisiana Sandusky signing off!  Take care and God bless!

~Love, your friend, Louisiana Mayrah.  :)