Bonjour!

I crossed over last evening when I saw Sherrie Hollier sitting on the steps at the Laborde camp. Jay Laborde and Jeffery Mayeux had chops on the pit. They work for Painting For Dropless from Marksville and are camping there while doing work for the Labordes in Lafayette.

March 4 was our 10th year anniversary when the David Laborde family gave us their camp. David is running a commercial on local TV about his business, so you can put his face on his name. I leased this lot in about 1976. In the 1980s when I ran trucks, my girls and I moved away so I gave up our trailer. We abandoned living here for some years but I kept the lease.

In 1999 my family bought this lot from the state. We’d had a couple of interested buyers but I wouldn’t sell my kids childhood memories of where they grew up and where I hoped to live again some day. In 2002 wanting to move back I looked around to buy a trailer or small house to move on the lot. Someone informed me of a camp for sale across the road.

I contacted the Labordes and told them of my dilemma and interest in their camp. On a Saturday morning he and his kids met me there and gave me a tour. I loved it. I did not want to show how anxiously interested I was in case of a let down. Because I knew I would not have been able to afford to pay what I thought the true value was. It is made of cypress with three bedrooms and a nice living area and a screened in porch on two sides. The siding needed a little painting but I thought: Heck! The people in France will never see that.

I almost felt defeated before I asked his price. He had not mentioned one to me. He told me the decision to make an offer was mine. I did. He said he’d talk it over with his family. But after a couple of times of my mind changes and dropping down on the price, he settled on a lower price I had first offered.

But after I learned the price for moving camp, I had to abandon the idea. I told David we could not afford it because the moving would be costlier than the camp. So I suggested they sell it to someone else. A week later a defeated me called David to see if they’d sold it yet. My ears echoed what he said: Our family talked it over and we give you the camp.

Oh my God! I’ve been blessed by the Labordes! Yes a total stranger to David and family asking for help and He brought us together. I’m forever grateful. Plus their yard was like a forest surrounded by trees and bamboos secluded from the road. They gave it all up to cut and clear to haul away this big camp to what is my castle. We took pictures.

Good memories out weighs all! Now when the Labordes come camping their eyes glance my way with thoughts of good old times reminiscing family memories.

I love my beautiful camp and to me it’s the toughest and most original on the block.

On another story: If a river of tears cried by a loved ones family could bring back their life for a few more moments, Shelton Faucheaux! Father Pousson said a beautiful Mass and thank you Hunter Courville for inviting me to join you with the music for Shelton’s funeral.

God works in mysterious ways. Have a great day!

–Cousine Hélène

228-1714

helenboudreaux@juno.com.