In 1995, Jennifer had a nursing convention in New Orleans. She asked if I wanted to go, dumb question, New Orleans is my favorite party town, you never have to ask me twice. Being struck by inspiration, I suggested we make it an adventure; I came up with the theme of a musical odyssey.

We first went to Nashville, and did the Country Western thing, then to New Orleans for Dixieland and Jazz, and after her convention, we went to Lafayette, Louisiana for Cajun and Zydeco. From Lafayette, we went to Natchez for the night, and Natchez is located across the Mississippi from Ferriday, Louisiana. Ferriday is the birthplace of Jerry Lee Lewis; I found his boyhood home, and as I was taking a picture, a woman comes out and identifies herself as Jerry Lee's sister, and she invites us in for dinner! I could never sell this to Jennifer, I was uncomfortable with it myself, I thanked her and said we had to be moving on.

This picture was taken at a river front bar. From Natchez, we drove up to Clarksdale in the Delta, home of the blues. We saw Muddy Waters cabin, and we went looking for Sonny Boy Williamson's gravesite. We found it in Tutwiler, amidst some of the greatest poverty we have ever seen.

Before leaving the Delta, I had to find the crossroads; in blues history, it's where Robert Johnson met the Devil, and sold his soul for musical ability. We found the crossroads, where Highway 61 crosses Highway 49, north of Clarksdale. As I got out of the car to take a picture, Jennifer said, "Don't talk to anyone." As I'm walking towards the crossroads, I hear the the electric door locks on the car click shut, like doorlocks are going to stop the devil.

From there we went to Memphis for Rock and Roll at the SUN Recording Studio, and a night on Beale Street, going to B.B. King's Blues Bar, and the Rum Boogie Bar. Before leaving Memphis, we toured Graceland. We hit St. Louis for more blues, and finally Chicago, for the real deal, down and dirty, kick-ass bar room boogie. Damn, I'm good.