Butte La Rose et Les Entourage

Bonjour!
Vin and Aline Bruce were back in town a couple weekends ago. When he sings at the Liberty Theater, his handsome rich unmatchable voice in either Cajun or country is unbeatable. They always call me for a rendezvous. Their 5-year-old grandson, Benjamin Bruce, is learning French and memorizes songs that he sings. Grandpa is teaching him to play guitar, so far his fingers are too short. But music in his soul! Apple did not fall far from that tree.
Their party of 20 couples from down the bayou came along. Can’t name them all but they all mostly speak French. You know how we talk English and not much French around here? Honteux!
Again I thank God for His many blessings on me. And thank Rheta Grimsley Johnson for these many kind people she’s introduced me to. My trip to Oxford, Miss., was lots of fun again this year. Mais, I passed a good time. There were several guest appearances at the Thacker Mountain Radio Show at the Lyric Theater and we all had a limited time do each do our own thing.
The show I did was like I wrote in a previous column, to sing some Hank au Français. An Oxford guitar picker named Jake Fussell backed me, and made my singing sound like what the audience wanted to hear. We touched their hearts, based on the response in their applause.
I am no stranger to some of the Oxford folks. Rheta has brought me to book signings in Mississippi and Alabama and introduced me as I entertained because she’s written about me in her books and columns. That is in her nature, using her opportunity to help others.
After the show I mingled with the audience to say thanks for coming and it was good to see those from last year. A stranger came up and hugged me and said he cried when I sang. He then backed off a few feet and using his hand gestures said I pulled his heart from his chest and put it back in. Then he said that is worth another hug and he hugged me tighter. And his wife hugged me also. Another man said he felt like he’d known me for a long time because he reads about me in Rheta’s books and columns. Another man, tall, wearing a hat, and unashamed said I made him cry.
I had left out from here Thursday morning for the show that night and got there at about two. It was nice that Rheta and hubby Hines had a room waiting for me at the Comfort Inn. And thanks to Thacker’s booking agent Kathryn McGaw for her gracious invitation. I was home next day for another booking Saturday. And Oh yes they also complain of mosquitoes.
A reminder: the Clayton Boudreaux Memorial Park in Catahoula, Nov. 2-3, will have a benefit for Carol Blanchard for medical expenses. They will have a Saturday and Sunday menu, hamburgers, sweet booth, kids’ booth. For the co-ed and men’s softball games information, call Kirk Barras at (337) 277-9206. The poker run Saturday, Nov. 2, will be for motorcycles and Jeeps. Call Trevor Huval (337) 380-1195. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Also, a silent auction.
Weekend music line-up begins Saturday 9 a.m. with Richard Daigle, 12:30-4 p.m. Cajun Nation/Courtney Blaire, 7-11 p.m. High Performance with Steve Riley. Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the Leblanc Family Band.
There is no charge to come in. Parking is free, land there is lots of play ground area and equipment. Bring the family.
Amètie,

–Cousine Hélène
(337) 228-1714
helenboudreaux@uno.com