Baja St. Martin

The nice weather continues. My knees are turning black with ground-in dirt from planting flowers. I’m eating green beans almost every day and today I consumed my very first homegrown tomato. It was delicious.
The hummingbirds are still here but not in such numbers anymore. The purple martins are raising their kids and I haven’t seen the wood ducks but I know they’re there.
The levee is freshly mowed and all is well with the world. At least I guess it is. I haven’t heard anything about the FAS/levee business lately but somebody told me fracking is pretty much over and that’s where a lot of wastewater comes from. I did see/hear a news item telling how the number of earthquakes in Oklahoma had increased by the hundreds in one year and injection for fracking wastes had been mentioned as a possible factor.
Last Saturday evening just before dark we noticed a huge plume of dark smoke catty-corner across the river. Pretty soon we could not only see flames but hear the crackling. One fire truck arrived and a bunch of rescue vehicles and they all stayed until well after dark until obviously the blaze was controlled. I learned later that a mobile home was being torn down by some local guys. Apparently they started a small bon fire for trash and then decided things were going too slow so they tied a chain or rope to the trailer roof, pulled it off and unfortunately, pulled it right on top of the bon fire. Then everything burned. I have not heard that anyone was hurt but I did hear that someone was issued a ticket. Hwy. 1016-2 was blocked for quite a while as the various trucks did whatever they did to end the situation. This would be the road that is locally called the Goddell.
I think I attended the last grade-closing program this morning for local Pierre Part schools. Pierre Part Middle School closing program for grades 5, 6 and 7 should have been last Friday, but you might have heard that a small tornado touched down in one portion of Assumption Parish early that morning, leaving lots of people without power. I guess the authorities decided to just close all the schools even though here, in Pierre Part, all was well. Best to be safe.
Anyway, the middle school grade (minus the 8th which was last week at night) program scheduled for that Friday was held Tuesday, May 24. It apparently wasn’t a surprise to many, but the Pierre Part Primary principal, Linda Boudreaux, officially announced her retirement. I believe she’s been there for 20 plus years. A classroom teacher for some of that time, then assistant principal at two schools and lastly the principal of this one. It will be interesting to see who takes her place.
As I watch the programs I can’t help but notice how many of the teachers used to be my students! And how many of the parents were also my students! Such a long time ago. They do remember me, though. I once had a full-suited Santa Claus come up to me in a store and ask, “Remember me, Ms. Cooke ?” I guess I was a bit different. I spoke with a different accent and had an uncommon name for this area, so I was somewhat memorable on those scores.
Actually, when I meet someone new even now, they will often listen to me speak and then remark, “You’re not from around here, are you?”
I don’t think I sound any different but I guess I do. My northern family says I don’t talk like them anymore, either.
Hope you all had a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

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