Baja St. Martin

Sad news from Belle River. Mr. Wilbert “Pee-Wee” McDaniels passed away this past week. It was a shock to those of us who knew Mr. Wilbert had been having some medical issues but didn’t realize how serious they were. Mr. Wilbert and Lois were my commodity helpers in Belle River – have been for years. I hope Lois continues to be our helper but it won’t be the same without him. It’s going to be hard for Lois now because she and Mr. Wilbert did everything together. I know she’ll be OK given time.
It is raining tonight; not hard but the temperature has dropped considerably. The wind has stopped blowing finally. I laid my birdhouses down on the dock, took my flag out of the holder on the porch and removed my sun umbrella from the table on the porch because it was so terribly windy late in the afternoon. When the deck chairs started sliding around, I figured it was time to take some precautions. I have lost several chairs and once a table to high winds so I try to take precautions now.
The Belle River boat parade was Saturday, Dec. 12. I forgot to count, but I think there were about a dozen decorated boats, all lavishly decorated and lighted with Christmas music playing. It was really nice. I bundled up with a blanket, took my Dad’s old hand held school bell onto the porch and rang the bell and yelled Merry Christmas to the boats. Someone yelled Merry Christmas Mrs. Cooke from one of the boats but I don’t know who it was. The weather was perfect for the parade and terribly the next night so that was lucky.
I went to Breaux Bridge for a meeting recently and drove part way in really heavy rain. Just as I was considering pulling to the side of the road, the rain let up. All through the meeting the skies were gray but clear but when I headed home the heavens opened up again. I can deal with sporadic – you know, when it gets so bad you really can’t see and then it clears up and back and forth. Anyway, it was a tiring day.
Now, today, the rains have stopped and the temperature is in the low 60s at 8 a.m. The sky looks clear to the north and my porch flag hangs limp. I’m happy to find that my newly installed pet door seals itself sufficiently to keep out the wind. I suspect I will have to put some sort of a shield on the outside for really heavy blows, but for now it is working great. The dog and cat have both mastered exit and entry, although I have to give the dog a push when she stands with her head and front feet outside on the ledge and her butt and hind legs inside, holding the plastic flap open.
As always, I will miss spending Christmas with my northern family. I’ve been so many miles away for so many years that I’m used to not seeing them, but I sill miss them. Like everyone else in the world, my family is growing somewhat smaller as I age and getting larger also. My parents are both gone, my husband’s parents are both gone but we have gained one grand-son-in-law, one son-in-law, all far away but we keep in touch by mail and social media.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Sally, Ken, Grover, Charlotte, Lois, “Pee Wee” in absentia, Shanese, Beth, all the gang at the COA, Faye, Gordon, Jerry, Linda, Linda, Linda (must have been a popular name) Nancy, Lanny, all the Food for Senior friends and all the wonderful new people I’ve met this year. Thanks for everything.

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