The year was 1985. I had flown to New Orleans, Louisiana, to give a technical paper at an international symposium on Innovative Pollution Control Technologies. My paper was on a device I had patented under an EPA research grant, for the removal of toxic metals from process streams using chelation chemistry. I was terrified. I lived in horror of speaking before large audiences (or audiences of any size, but large audiences were sheer Armageddon). Unfortunately, it was a condition of the grant that I do so, provided that research was successful. This phobia has long since ceased to be a concern, having become comfortable with myself and secure in the knowledge that there is no actual distinction between the audience and me. Now, I enjoy the process. I was staying at the ultra-modern glitzy hotel that hosted the symposium (free of charge to me, as a presenter). This was no consolation to me and served only to increase the intimidation. Just a few blocks away, within easy walking distance, was the famous Bourbon Street. On the night before my crucifixion (as I metaphorically viewed it), I decided to pay the historical Street a visit in what I hoped would be a palliative exercise. Wow! Although J. K. Rowling would have been only twenty at the time, here, nevertheless was Diagon Alley, right out of ‘Harry Potter’. In fact, the first time I came across Diagon Alley in one of her novels, I thought, “Bourbon Street!” Here were old streets with strange side alleys; antique gabled houses, utterly bizarre characters abounded. The street was filled with people enjoying an evening stroll. Strains of excellent jazz formed a delightful background accent. Smells of delectable Cajun cooking filled the air. The sounds and smells of the adjacent Mississippi River formed a soft overlay. I had not walked a hundred yards down the street when I was confronted by a seedy looking character who said, “Hey mister!” “I bet you a dollar I can tell you where you got those shoes” he said pointing at my feet. And I thought, ok, it’s a con but I want to see how he pulls it off, since even I didn’t remember where I got the shoes. So I said, “Ok, it’s a bet!” Whereupon he said, “You got them shoes on yo’ feets, that’s where you got them”. Catharsis! Instant catharsis! The best dollar I ever spent! The next day, I presented my paper. I prefaced it with the above, and I got a standing ovation. It just goes to show you. Revelation can come at you anytime from anywhere. Today’s rendering is My Bourbon Street. I hope you like it. It is an unorthodox size, and the quality suffers from upload constraints, but I refuse to change it; zoom may help. Created in Ultra Fractal