Bonjour!

Salute! To the heroic memory de les “Sept. Frère Vétéran de la Famille Sanders de Arnaudville.”

Brother Wilbert did not serve, but we’re proud of him all the same.

Rheta Grimsley, from her book “Poor Man’s Provence” sends her best to everyone touched by the flood.

What! Already! The mighty Boudreaux twins Dustin and Justin are graduating! Bonne chance!

There is so much to write about this week; Ryan and Genee Latiolais’ wedding, the flooding, my weekend tour with the Hilltop Arboretum folks.

Last week I received a call and email from Paula Wagstaff from New Zealand with a concern about the flooding in Butte La Rose. She’d seen Kate Buchanan being interviewed on national ABC TV from her home. Paula hopes New Orleans appreciates the price the people in Butte La Rose and the Atchafalaya Basin are all paying.

I responded thanking her concern:

Water will come to about two feet below my dwelling. I will replant my garden and replace my plants. And with God’s will we in Butte La Rose and the Basin will all recover with this all coming to past. Although, with regretful memories changing our lives making new memories of forced and costly new beginnings.

I think next to God, Mother Nature controls all else – we live by her rules, we adapt to her controlling the weather and Mother Earth. Here it’s all swampland, marshes and wetlands – we’ve invaded her swamps. But only when the Morganza gates open to save others do we witness her ravage wrath. Kate is a wonderfully intelligent and gutsy woman – a kind well spoken civic leader for our Cajun community. Thanks Paula, your prayer is appreciated.

Helen

The Latiolais newly weds had a great wedding ceremony at St. Bernard’s church in Breaux Bridge last Friday with Father Breaux as celebrant.

Plenty of family and friends filled the church to witness Ryan and Genee exchange vows before God. They werw vow’s to love, protect and respect each other all the days of their lives.

The bridemaids were gorgeously dressed in beautiful gowns as were expected.

And the best men wore brown suits and were breathtakingly handsome as usual.

I classify them as handsome dudes and beautiful dudettes (my word).

The only ones I saw to be nervous were the parents. I witnessed the ceremony from the balcony; it was beautiful. A million thoughts traveled through my mind as I watched every move Ryan and Genee made and I admired every moment of thoughts of joy they were probably thinking on their very special night – having bonded as husband and wife.

I love singing at weddings, although I still get nervous, too.

After the practice the previous night we were treated to a special buffet at Buck and Johnny’s Pizzeria across the street.

It’s a nice place. It’s spacious and comfortable, has a great atmosphere with plain old brick walls from the old Domingue Chevrolet corner of Bridge and Berard that dates back several decades, and seats a large reception crowd.

You know you’re in Breaux Bridge in this restaurant. Who needs cluttered walls anyway, you are there to enjoy your food and friends? So go for the pizza, burger or buffet. I liked that me!

Une bon temp was had on the tour with Paula Dillemuth and her Hilltop Arboretum entourage this past weekend. We met up with Vin and Aline Bruce at the Bayou Black Restaurant at a Houma suburb. The band there invites me to sing with them and I love it because they let me sing as many as I want. C’est la vie!

Noyer pas! Guard pour les serpent!

Amètie à tout. Cousine Hélène 337-228-1714.