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Bonjour!

The Petit Paris Café needs a cook, Call Cyndi, 319-6562.

Coming home today from visiting my dear friend, Yola Courville, a doe with her two fawns came across the levee from the Basin side and right in front of me. When they saw my van, they began jumping and running scared and wild on their skinny little legs. The doe did not look full-grown yet herself. She was scrambling for an opening through the thick briars that line the canal on the west side. No doubt she was lost and had to cross through water to get back on land to safety.

It’s fast approaching: Catahoula’s Senior Citizen’s Day, Saturday, Oct. 10.

And don’t forget the Atchafalaya Basin Festival and fund raiser in November! See www.atchafalayabasinfestival.com.

Breaux Bridge’s Citywide Garage Sale will be Saturday, Oct. 3. Lots of great bargains for Christmas gifts.

I’ve heard that Walmart in Breaux Bridge honored its prettiest employee, Ms. Gloria Simon, with a plaque recently. You go girl!

I had a visit with Joe Douglas, the Cajun/Country Bayou Boss recording artist from Henderson. I remember back in 1973, some of us happened to be listening to the Grand Ole Opry. To our surprise, Joe was singing. He was given a standing ovation and went back on stage for an encore.

Mrs. Edna McGee’s funeral was held last week in Henderson. Many of us remember her late husband, Claude. He was the original owner of McGee’s Landing on the levee, and for many years was a school bus driver.

You know, when at a wake, we all tell stories of the past. Chick Allemond and Shirley Hayes reminisced about the long-ago Henderson we knew. I remember when it was called either Hannis-port or Henrys-port. Henry Guidry owned the restaurant and club, fun place to dance. That was my first time seeing Jimmy Newman. The club had dances by Ralph Boutte, and Larry Brasseaux, and J.B. Perry and many others. And also along that short stretch of road leading to the levee was the Star Club and it held dances. There was Theriot’s Club across the bridge on the left, I don’t remember the name of it, but there was a bar across from that club, and there was Aristol Robin’s Restaurant and Club, Robin’s Texaco and Bar. The chapel was on the levee and eventually moved and replaced where the car wash had been.

Chick said they’d walk to the chapel, crossing the levee and turning to the right. Eventually the church was built. Arconge Dauphiner had a club and a taxi service. As many clubs and restaurants as there were in Henderson, there were always lots of people out dancing. Henry Guidry’s place had an elevated floor about two feet higher than the dance floor with booths all along the walls. A small town, living was fishing, oil patch, dredge boats, and action-packed.

I remember when Pat’s Restaurant burned down in October 1987. For weeks, lines of cars came from all around south Louisiana, slowly driving by, making a U-turn at the levee, and slowly crawling back to get one more glimpse of the ashes where Pat’s had stood. People were so sad and not ashamed to shed tears over the much-loved burned-down landmark.

It was the most popular and loved restaurant in all of Louisiana. And possibly throughout the country. People and visitors came here from everywhere because, un-contested, Pat’s was known for serving the best seafood delicacy in the world.

Oh, but so much sadness! For the first several weeks you’d thought an endless funeral procession was happening in Henderson, and everyone’s best friend had died. More later.

Parle Français comme moi.

Cousine Hélène
helenboudreaux@juno.com.