Butte La Rose et Les Entourage

Bonjour!

Attention: May 17-18, Catahoula, St. Rita Church Fair, church@strita.brcoxmail.com.

Do you have a relative or know someone in a nursing or assisted living home or a hospital? If you’ll drive by St. Agnes in Breaux Bridge look for senior residents sitting out front enjoying fresh air and watching scenic traffic flow on I-10. They are lonely. Comforts of home may be no more. They share companionship with all who’ll listen. If we are lucky enough to make it to our golden years, like them we’ll live that life.

I go by there to visit my sister Ruby. She has smoked almost her entire life of almost 80 years. If I dare to add a year to her age she might hit me over my head with a broom when I’ll go again. But I think I am safe to say almost 80. After I walk in we hug and then she’ll say; I’ll grab my cigarettes and lighter and go walk outside “pour fumier à ma mort.” She looks at me with the same little grin papa had.

She attaches long filters to the long ones that come on the already filtered cigarettes and by the time she has puffed the hell out of the smoke it can’t reach into her lungs because the smoke is filtered to nothing but a little air. So I can’t figure what enjoyment she’s getting out of a tasteless cigarette. But if it makes her happy, puff on sister.

Ever wonder where old friends and relatives have gone? I hit a jackpot on my visit. Mr. Olden “Tu Tu” Theriot from Parks lives there. Same case as Ruby – unable to live alone at home. By providing such good care and help, nursing homes are the best, safest and most secure place with 24/7 care. To say anyone can go by even if it’s for a few minutes, make their day and chat with them. They crave company.

Also at St. Agnes is 93-year-old Mr. Harry Mouton Sr. from Parks. It’s a good thing they’re free to comfortably roam the halls and area of the home in their wheelchairs.

It was fun within a few minutes of chatting we were not strangers to each other. We laughed. Tu Tu even mentioned my column and knew my papa Pokit. Both talked about all the old dance clubs from all of the Acadiana area.
These men were like our typical passé partout Cajuns having seen and lived it all. Their oilfield jobs brought them to the best memorable robust stomping years of their youth. For instance the old Horse Shoe Club in Catahoula. Their details were amazing and this is part of our history and culture too. I thought to myself these old stories and memories stored away in their hearts and minds just bubbling over to share. And are going untold and will also be gone when they are. Ruby smiled at her own memories.

Tu-Tu and Harry are pioneers of our Cajun way of life having lived interesting ones during their time and still here to talk about ‘em. I regret I did not have a tape recorder.

They talked about the restaurant and dance hall on the Catahoula Lake, saying pilings are still visible. They lived it all prior to world war two and oilfield boom of the 1930s. These stories are as much a part of our Cajun history as when this area was developed. See, y’all never knew that!

They were saying the Touchet Brothers played music at the Horse Shoe in the 1950s. Catahoula girls loved the brothers and the local boys loved their sister Eva.

So do yourself a favor, go visit our seniors and thank them for the memories.

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