I twice journeyed to South Louisiana this December, and each visit was thoroughly enriching and deeply meaningful.
In early December, my maternal aunt turned 80, and my cousins threw her a surprise party. My aunt is the oldest of 9 born to my grandparents, and I knew that her age was increasing (like everyone’s), but it was not until that party that I realized it. Among attendees, which numbered over 100, easily, were a few of my grade school teachers and heads of school, community members, and family friends who I had not seen in over 25 years! The added bonus was my uncle spoke to me for the first time in 25-30 years. The food! Of course, no Louisiana Creole celebration would be lacking in local gastronomical traditions. When my cousin asked I go up to the mic and offer some reflection, I sobbed uncontrollably like a baby for the first 10 seconds. It was not out of sadness. It was out of profound appreciation and love for her. Her influence on my artistic side, genealogy, history and culture in general, has been immense: she had me drawing, painting, playing piano and soccer, going camping, and researching history and genealogy from a very tender age. I am incredibly grateful for her in my life.
I returned again on Dec 13th for my mom’s back surgery. Although the recovery has had its painful moments, the surgery was a success, and the resilient Dodie is fast recuperating, even began walking without the walker, and dressing herself, 5 days after the surgery. Dr. Daniel CORMIER is wonderful, and did a fantastic job. Anyone with disk, or orthopedic issues, should consider him. He is one of a handful of specialists in his area in the United States, with patients all over the nation. The Lafayette Surgical Hospital on Kaliste Saloom Road is where he is based. Contact him and tell him! Many special thanks also to the innumerable family and friends who visited mom, brought her food, sat with her, and supported her in her convalescence. Appreciation also to her nurses and Dr. CORMIER.
The two-part lecture series on Louisiana Creole genealogy, history, and culture, that I gave at the New Iberia Main Public Library, on December 19-20th, was a tremendous success. It was well attended both days by Creoles, Cajuns, African Americans, and Native Americans, by people from as far as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles. Some participants I had “known” from online for years and years, like Donald and Patty, and others I have known for over 15 years through common research interests. I did not put anyone to sleep, and there was much laughter, and collaboration on both days. Their attendance shows the importance of research and the spread of knowledge among our great people. The highlight for the attendees, I believe, was the genealogy activity I did on day 2, where they learned how they were related to perfect strangers in the room. They had such a great time that it took me 5 or more minutes to break them up! I was asked by some present when I could or would do this again in their geographic locations. Hot damn! Many relatives also attended, including aunts, and a special cousin, Jackie, from Convent in St. James Parish, who I met for the first time in person, and who brought beautiful poinsettias for my mom, and a brick from her property. She lives on land that our common 2nd great-grandfather, Jean VAVASSEUR, owned. He was a brick kiln maker, and apparently did some masonry work on the property, leaving behind bricks (some of them stamped with the family business name “I.V.” short for Industries des Vavasseur. Jean died in 1851, so the brick that Jackie brought, dates back to the antebellum period, and were no doubt touched by Jean and other VAVASSEUR family between the Antebellum period and 2017!
I was busy visiting, nursing my mom, and completing work that I brought with me there, but I always make time to reconnect with deceased family by visiting their graves and walking on land they once owned and walked on. Most people my age think I am completely batshit, and weird, for this, but there is a certain je ne sais quoi about this tradition of mine. I suppose knowing one’s ancestors plays an important role in my work and explains, at least in part, why I always find ways to reconnect with them after their deaths.
In week 2, I went to visit a friend, Boisy, in Prairie Ronde, an area near Opélousas in St. Landry Parish. I had had no time to do so in my previous two visits, so this was important to me. Boisy and I share not only an appreciation for modernity, technology, history, genealogy and culture, but above all, he is a good man who does not ask for anything in return. When I first moved to Connecticut after repatriating in September 2016 from England, it was Boisy who first visited me. He brought up an ice chest full of Louisiana Creole meats unavailable up here, along with spices, roux, Community Coffee, and all sorts of other treats, like Louisiana French. My students came over and watched Boisy make gumbo, even helped out, and sat to enjoy the smoked meat gumbo and potato salad after. They were shocked that someone other than myself from Louisiana spoke French! I don’t think they entirely believed that I was “really” from South Louisiana. Boisy and Ben being there changed that, and they have asked ever since for us to make gumbo, play Zydeco, and visit South Louisiana ever since. Boisy took me for a ride to Lawtell, Swords, Ville-Platte, Mamou, Frilot Cove, Grande-Prairie, all neighboring and heavily Creole communities. We also took a ride to Eunice to visit Dave and Ben. I met Dave about 18 years ago at Francophone discussion meetings that a small group of us had at Bisbano’s in Lafayette.
Wishing everyone peace and prosperity, but also increased knowledge of their own community’s history and culture, for 2018.