Bonjour!

The “Swamp People,” the TV hit series from the History Channel, cast, Harvey, T-Mike, Melody, Blaise and Mike Kliebert Sr., will be special guests this Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Henry Guidry Memorial Park in Henderson for their annual Atchafalaya Basin Festival.

They will sign autographs, take pictures and have plenty of souvenirs available.

Grand Marshall T-Mike Kliebert and Michelle Simon, Ms. Atchafalaya Basin Festival, will reign over the festivities that day.

Imagine these wonderful people coming here and sharing their time with us. There is so much excitement at festivals.

Music will begin at about 11 a.m. with Helen Boudreaux/Maurice Castania’s Country Western Entourage till about 1:30 p.m., when other bands will take over and play until way past dark. It’s a nice pavilion to dance on.

There will be a catfish courtbouillion cook-off. Anyone interested in participating in that cook-off call 257-2444.

There will be plenty of food and refreshments to purchase.

Bring your lawn chairs. There will be lots of Cajuns and music, laughter and chatter. You might meet old friends and make new ones. Come pass a good time. Admission is free and they will have lots of parking.

Thelma, from Magdalen, is our matafact mentor. Her sunset years are being spent sharing old stories about our family. Without these stories I would not have been introduced to these beloved people.

Thelma’s story

I feel I missed so very much not being raised in Louisiana. I moved to Alaska to become a Manage Head Design and Bridal Consultant with three children in 1973. The Trans Alaskan Pipeline gave us an opportunity to give my children a better life.

The weeks spent away from them can never be given back to me. Cold Foot, Five Mile, Old Man Camp’s were my home for over four years. It enabled me to build a small home and purchase a Genealogy Research Book, travel and learn of our people. I also get a degree at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks in 1998 at the age of 66.

Thank you Magdalen for sharing your wonderful story! These were my feelings as well when I’d leave my daughters to go work from Sunday evening until Friday.

God only knows what’s in our hearts. We’ve shared the same shoes.

A few weeks ago I mentioned dropping off clothes at The Ark in St. Martinville, but didn’t say the Wallace Landry’s also donated a bag full of his barely worn short sleeve shirts. They called me to go pick up a sack of okra that Saturday when I told them where I was going and for what. They asked would I please take their donation for them. Merci à Wallace et Marie.

I do repeat myself when I say once in a while I treat myself to the City Buffet in Breaux Bridge. There’s good food all over town. China Buffet has prices I can afford, and I enjoy their variety of seafood dishes, especially their shrimp.

I can’t cook that good or for that cheap.

At the table across mine were Opie LeBlanc, Douglas Saintignan and Brook LeBlanc, workers of D&M Septic Tanks.

Once upon a time not so long ago men went home to a noon lunch, but there aren’t many stay-at-home wives cooking anymore; they also have jobs.

And don’t forget the plate lunches at Hebert’s on Main Street, mais sa c’est bon mais cher.

Vin and Alene Bruce are attempting to get hotel reservations in Lafayette and, with a little luck, they’ll be here for the festival, too. They usually bring friends along.

Raymond and Janet David are managers at the exit 34 on I-49 rest area and they invite you all to stop by and say “hi.” Raymond was a deputy sheriff for St. Martin Parish until he ventured off into this job; he lives in Butte La Rose.

Amètie à tout. Mon lam tout vous autre, tout la bande. Cousine Hélène, 228-1714.