Yesterday Julie and I accepted an invitation from a New Orleans friend to join him and a hundred others on January 9 for a game day luncheon at Antoine’s, in the French Quarter. There will be Oysters Rockefeller, and Ramos gin fizzes, and all manner of merriment (and even some Crimson Tide fans, for well-brought-up Louisianians are catholic in their generosity). We will eat and drink all afternoon, then find our way either to the game or, in our case, to a game-watching party. LSU playing Alabama for the national championship is like Mardi Gras come early! Joy shall be unconfined. Just to let you know what a Rilly Big Deal this is in the Great State, a friend in Baton Rouge just forwarded me an e-mail sent by St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge to parents:

In light of the LSU Tigers playing in the national championship game on Monday, January 9, St. Joseph’s Academy will be closed on the day of the game. We will have a late start on Tuesday, January 10: 8:45 a.m. Please note that everyone is expected to be at school at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

We have worked with Catholic High School to ensure that both schools will follow the same schedule on January 9 and 10.

Geaux Tigers.