I drove up to Starhill yesterday to tell my mom goodbye. I leave in a few hours for Budapest, where I will be until the end of July, working on a fellowship. I brought Mama a coconut cream pie. We each had a piece, sitting on her front porch.

Here’s a selfie I took of us yesterday. As I age, I get fatter and uglier, but Mama, she just grows more beautiful.

Oh, in other good West Feliciana Parish news, the Walker Percy Weekend gang had a cocktail party this week to remind ourselves of what we all look like, and to get our festival planning back on track. We have had to miss two WPWs in a row because of Covid. We ain’t missing next year. Mark your calendars, people.

Say, there’s a new Live Not By Lies promotional video out — take a look, and pass it on if you like it.

Also, if you haven’t checked out my buddy Kale Zelden and me kibitzing on our General Eclectic podcast, what are you waiting for? Here’s the latest:

We’re going to keep doing the podcast with me in Budapest, but I am also going to try to add some European content — interviews and stuff. I bought a fancy camera, just like Kale has, and am taking my Blue Yeti microphone along with me. For example, when I go to the Bratislava Hanus Days ideas festival later this spring, I’m hoping to be able to do some interviews there for the podcast. Please follow us! You can get the podcast in all the usual places.

I’ll see y’all on the other side. If you see me in Frankfurt airport tomorrow morning, come say hi and I’ll buy you a breakfast beer.