Baja St. Martin

Well, I was wrong again. The purple martins have not left. I’m pretty sure the babies have fledged, but the birds are still here. I wonder if they have to imprint the location on the youngsters before they leave?
Also, one, maybe both of my birdhouses are occupied by martins and little wrens or whatever those little speckled birds are. They have been cohabiting very peacefully all season and continue to do so. The hummingbirds are also still here, but only two, possibly that I can see.
It is positively chilly this morning. It rained pretty hard last night and the wind is out of the north now. Rain forecast percentages are high but we seem to be missing the worst of the weather. Texas sure looks awful in some places.
I have lived in this same spot since l972 and during that time there have been several major high water events. It might have been l973 or ’75 when our entire yard was under water. I had trot lines out in what was the neighboring lot. I think that was the year I had my pirogue tied to the back steps and would paddle out to the road, which was high and dry, to reach my car. One of those high water years, maybe the same one, we put levees around our yard with jigger pumps at several places but I can remember so well that the levees leaked and the pumps would get clogged with eels and crawfish. For lack of room elsewhere, we took my washing machine and dryer across the river to a bar (which is no longer there) and I’d paddle the pirogue across with my laundry when necessary. Other people used the machines also, but that was OK. You could always play pool while waiting for your turn!
The St. Martin Parish Council met here on May 26 and it was really a pleasure to host their meeting. The Belle River meeting center was pretty filled with people who had issues and/or those who just came to show the council how much they appreciated all the parish support in the FAS/levee battle. Lots of hugging, cheek kissing, visiting, renewing friendships, making new acquaintances after the meeting. It was really nice. I just wish they would come again sooner than a year, but understand the council has a lot of other communities to visit.
President Guy Cormier said the parish legal advisor, Chester Cedars, whom he praised highly, is now studying the legal aspects of the FAS/levee issue and that the parish is continuing to oppose the company, which has returned to the parish for permits which have again been denied. We’ll see what happens next, but again, I am eternally grateful for the parish support in this matter.
Although he said he would be actively around for another six months, it was sort of a farewell to Parish Councilman “Coach” Carroll Delahoussaye, who is term-limited for District I. We really appreciate all he has done for us and appreciate the whole council for their support. As a resident of lower St. Martin, an area which once was sort of forgotten territory, it is so heartening now to know that we are not forgotten anymore, that we do have some importance in the life of the parish.
I like living here. I miss my northern (and western, eastern, southern) family, but I like living in Belle River. As President Cormier remarked, we are really lucky above other towns in the parish to have municipal sewage and water. We have paved roads, a meeting room, public ball park, walking trails. I won’t get carried away here and say we have everything we need or want, but as the slogan says, “We’ve come a long way, baby!” (I sure hope that wasn’t from a cigarette commercial!)

Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be emailed at lindacooke1939@gmail.com.