IT'S JUST A CAMP...DREAM ON

"IT'S JUST A CAMP" some will say...

"THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES..."

others will say...

and still others may say, "THERE ARE CHILDREN WITH NO BEDS"

With all this said, and feeling a somewhat selfish guilt that 

some of us are not suffering as badly as others,

A camp for our Down the Bayou People is like our home.

My son, had just completed the buying of his own Camp that he 

has saved and dreamed about since he was a little kid.

Days after the storm, when we still did not know just how bad

Our Bayou was, Rod tried to talk himself through the fact that

his camp was gone. Thinking it was a gamble to even buy a camp 

in that area. Saying all this aloud, I told him that was a good 

way to look at it, he professed "I am trying to convince myself"

Days later when he and his girls were helping on the bayou,

he was able to see the roof of his camp with a set of binoculars.

A few days after he was able to go back there with his boat

and realize that although his camp was salvageable, so many were not.

I am sure he was thinking of his own selfish guilt at that time.

This introduction takes me to my dear friends,

Cindy and Pat Walker's camp, DREAM ON

I was fortunate enough to be commissioned by our other dear friend,

Allie, to paint Dream On.

It was in my early days and sometimes, I really did not know how

the final painting would come out.

This portrait became on of my favorites.

Unfortunately, Dream On, as Cindy's grandchildren said,

should now be called Nightmare....

Yes, it was just a camp....

but people in South Louisiana, who are fortunate to have a camp,

are not those who were born into wealth or given such a 

luxury item. Their camps stand for so much more.

They may have dreamed and thought of owning one their whole lives,

like my Son. 

They may have worked 80 plus hours a week just to save a little bit

on the side for the day that maybe they could have a camp.

Others may have started their own business with hopes of making it 

bigger than their parents, only to want the luxury of a camp.

Still others may have not gone on vacations so as to invest in the camp

they wanted one day. 

Camps in this area are rarely owned by anyone who were just blessed to "get a camp".

So for these people, their camp is and extension of their home

It is something they wanted so badly that even though there may not

be any insurance companies who will cover them, they still

take the leap of faith to own one, knowing that with any storm,

they could have lost it all.

Hurricane Ida took DREAM ON from the Walkers, as she

did many others.

They remain in that limbo where they try and grasp the loss 

without forgetting just how blessed they are to have a roof over

their head, loved ones who have survived illnesses.

However their camp along with all the others symbolized a

life of relaxation, where a family could gather and share their lives.

Where work could not interfere with time at the camp,

where love was spread and spoken.

I am relieved for my son that he has some camp left. 

while I am sad for others who have not been so fortunate.

In closing I would  like to say, I love what I do,

So that the Walkers have my camp portrait to 

remind them to DREAM ON...

Everyone needs a dream, I am glad my art can

remind them of that.

 

GABBY PETITO

If you are in a place right now where you can watch any news,

then you know who Gabby Petito is.

I have been consumed by the story of this missing child and

the man who calls her His "fiancé".

I have spent nights watching the Police surveillance video, 

I have watched the Tic Toc videos, and last night, could not

sleep after hearing that this young woman's bodily remains were found.

It is hard for me to call this story interesting as watching the

parents of Gabby is so heart-wrenching.

It is more like a terrible car accident that you just can't help but 

stare at as you slow down for safety.

As the rest of the population speaks out about Brian Laundrie,

I like the rest of you, are enraged.

How, How, can a man, who insists he loved this girl come 

home in Gabby's van on September 1st without her

and remain closed lipped until her family became worried on the 10th?

... and his parents......

I am a Mother, I do not care how much I love my children,

I know, for a fact, if I were in this situation I would sing like a bird

to that other Mother. I love my children, just as much as the 

Laundrie's love their son, but this young woman lived with them.

They knew her heart, her parents trusted the life of their daughter

with these people. I could never sleep a night knowing another

Mother was longing for her child, having sleepless nights

wondering where she was.

Many speak about closure, "at least they can now have closure"

Yet with closure they also loose hope.

I am aware that many missing people are never found and

yes, that has to be hard, but loosing hope of finding her

alive cannot be an easy task either.

I don't think I could call it closure when the man who

asked for my child's hand in marriage has all the answers

to her death and not only pleads the "5th amendment"

but decides to go missing and his parents don't report this

until two days later, go and pick up his car where he said

he would leave it....

What ever happened to the law of Aiding and Abetting?

Why are these parents not in jail now that there is a body?

I have so many questions just as the rest of the Nation.

I want to mention the Police Officer who stopped the couple a 

week before Gabby was suspected to be missing.

I watched the whole body cam video, and hour and 19 minutes.

This officer was one of the kindest I witnessed.

I know he has to be questioning his decision that he made

against his own judgement when another officer

basically tries to talk him out of filing a charge against Gabby

and putting her in jail. 

I think he is probably having many sleepless nights wondering

had he placed her in jail for the night, would she have 

explained to her parents what was going on on this trip.

I pray he is not beating himself up over this, the internet

is slamming this poor man. Any man this kind to two

young adults, who takes over an hour to decide how to handle

a situation, is suffering.

Gabby's Daddy, when being interviewed had nothing bad to 

say about this Officer. He basically said that

whatever happened on that day, was resolved as they continued

on their trip after and her parents had heard from her.

He went on to say that at that time, this was taking away

from the main cause and that was to find Gabby.

Kudo's to that parent. He may feel differently over time

as the stages of grief come upon he and his family,

but I think most of the anger will be for Brian and the Laundrie family.

Wherever Brian is, he should hope the police find him 

before an angry citizen does, immediate death for this man

is too good and yet our system does not need to house, feed, 

defend him in this case. Tell your story you coward little boy, 

plead guilty and spend the rest of your days away from the population.

His parents should also serve time for their part in all of this.

These are my thoughts and not everyone may agree 

but one thing is certain that I think we can all agree on,

GABBY PETITO will be remembered forever.

RIP

 

THE HOLY TRINITY

 Friday night I had the pleasure of having this

conversation with my 6 year old grandgirl, Jemma.

"What did you learn at school today?"

"I learned about the Holy Trinity, There is only one God, Mumsie

but... Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost"

She was sure in her facts but seemed confused as to how 

could one God be three other things.

I explained to her, the way I had been explained as a child:

"You know how your Daddy is your Daddy, but he is also

a Son and a Brother and a Husband?"

"yeah...." her mind absorbing...

"Well, God is like that, he is God but he is also 

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit"

"Ohhhhh, that makes sense"

Now Jemma is sometimes known for not hearing

a whole story and you are not always sure how much

she heard before moving on to her next adventure.

We left the conversation like that and went on playing 

"fooosh" which is what we call a pillow fight at the Cottage...

Saturday she came along to visit my oldest sister who is

now in the nursing home here in Plaquemine. 

As we sat outside reorienting my sister to what happened to 

our Bayou and why she is in Plaquemine, Jemma 

had a few things to say....

"Taunt Mone, you know about the Holy Trinity?

There is only one God, but he is also the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.."

as she does the Sign of the Cross.

My sister asks her a question and she says,

"Like you know that I am Jemma, one girl

but I am a sister and my momma and daddy' child..."

Oh "Be Still my Heart"

I love this child!

The talk of a child

 I have a favorite cashier at our local Rouse's.

Not that all of them are not polite, they just seem to 

change daily, except for my one favorite, who is there

every morning Monday thru Friday, 

first register near the sliding doors. 

Her hours and position do not seem to change.

She is no-nonsense, does not blow smoke where the sun don't shine

and not one for casual banter.

Yet, she remembers that I bring cloth bags for my groceries

and asks me "No bags today?" each time I get in her aisle.

She may ask about the grand girls but most days

she just slides my groceries across her register and bags.

She is self-sufficient not needing a bag person to help her.

She is often the one training the younger ones 

and even once in a while I can see her showing just an edge

of impatience as she tells the teen cashier for the 5th time

to slide the groceries all the way to her at the other end.

We connect in a way that I appreciate when in a hurry to get home.

However, bring up to any prideful Mother, her kids, 

and watch a person change in an instant.

One day as I am checking out, a handsome teenager stops

by her register to ask her something and I ask if 

that is her son. She beams with pride, admitting that

yes, he is hers and adds that he is a great athelete,

already being watched by scouts as he plays high school football.

I converse with her about this and she pulls a bit of

paper out her register and writes down a You Tube site

where I can view him playing. 

I do just that, and she is right, this child is very talented,

going places. I am impressed.

A few weeks later, I enter her aisle and she is her 

typical "no-nonsense self" until I  tell her

I watched her son on youtube....

A broaden smile enters her face, her eyes light up,

"You watched it?"

Yes, I share, I sure did.... and she just cannot stop talking

about not only this son, but her other three children.

She then asks me about the grandgirls who are often

with me when we visit Rouse's. She is engaged and interested.

If you want to see the true Mother behind a woman,

talk about her kids.... and step back and watch!

CARAVAN CRY

 Like many of you, I find myself on the verge of tears lately.

Sometimes it is for sadness, sometimes for happiness.

It could be empathy for my fellow man or sympathy for 

those who are less fortunate than I.

I also find myself re-evaluating love and friendship as

the tragedies of Ida surround me.

Yesterday, when bringing food to a friend,

I crossed the Mississippi river for the first time since the storm.

It was not a bad crossing, there are tree limbs everywhere

and some areas did not seem to have power.

I began to think of the spirit of South Louisiana,

how I lineman wrote a Facebook post about the spirit of our people.

People who have lost so much but make sure those helping us

are well fed and dehydrated. He reports that he has been all

over the United States helping with disasters and never

has he come across the hospitality of our people.

Staring into the face of the aftermath of Ida, 

we care for those who help us.

While contemplating all of this I begin to see

Electricity trucks traveling opposite me.

Not one, but many, all in a line following the other.

Heading towards wherever they are needed.

I begin to cry, then bawl. I must pull over.

It's not safe to drive when the pools of water begin to cloud your vision.

The love and respect I have for all those who answer the call

to complete strangers is palpable.

It is a good time to say, I am from South Louisiana,

a little town called Golden Meadow.

THIS DAY...

 THIS DAY REMAINS WITH PEOPLE PICKING UP THE PIECES

IDA LEFT BEHIND.

TODAY IS ALSO ONE OF THE DAYS MY GRAND GIRLS WILL

NEVER FORGET AS THEY LAY TO REST ONE OF THEIR

OWN DEAR FRIENDS WHO HAS FAUGHT THE BRAVE FIGHT

AGAINST DIPG, A TERRIBLE BRAIN CANCER.

BEING FROM A SMALL TOWN AND A SMALL PRIVATE SCHOOL,

YOU KNOW ALL YOUR PEERS, AND ALL YOUR SISTERS FRIENDS.

THIS SWEET GIRL WAS A DEAR FRIEND OF OUR JOLEE.

ALL OF US, AND EVEN MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE

COME TOGETHER TO HELP, PRAY FOR THIS SWEET GIRL

AND HER FAMILY.

I CANT EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING

AS THE LOSS OF A CHILD IS JUST HARD TO UNDERSTAND

AT ANY AGE. THIS LITTLE GIRLS LIFE WAS FULL OF PURPOSE.

WHEN SHE WAS HEALTHY AND WHEN SHE WAS SICK.

SHE WILL HAVE HELPED OTHERS WHO WILL SUFFER

WITH THIS DREADED CHILDHOOD CANCER IN THE FUTURE.

HER 4 PARENTS AND EXTENDED FAMILY SHOWED SUCH

BRAVERY AS THEY FACED THIS DISEASE AS WE

ALL WATCHED IN AWE. OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED

SUCH COMPASSION, RAISED FUNDS, DONATED TIME AND

RESOURCES SO THESE PARENTS COULD BE WITH THEIR LITTLE

GIRL THROUGHOUT HER BATTLE. HER PERSONAL 

FAMILIES CAME TOGETHER FOR THE LOVE OF ONE

SPECIAL LITTLE GIRL.. SHE HAS PLAYED A PART IN ALL

OF OUR LIVES AND HEARTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO

AS SHE GOES ON WITHOUT US TO A PLACE WITHOUT PAIN

OR SUFFERING. 

SO TODAY, AS YOU WAKE AND DRINK YOUR COFFEE, READ THE

PAGES OF IDA, CLEAN UP AFTER IDA, HELP YOUR FELLOW

MAN, DO IT IN THE NAME OF KYNLEE BEUCHE.

MY GRAND GIRLS, ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS WILL

JOIN WITH THIER SCHOOL FRIENDS TO LEARN A LESSON

THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT EXPERIENCES BEFORE.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE 

TO BURY SOMEONE YOU LOVE AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE

BUT IT IS PART OF LIFE AND WE ALL HAVE TO FIND SOME

TYPE OF PEACE WITH IT ALL.

I OFTEN SAY, WHEN HAVING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS HARD.

"IF YOU THINK ITS HARD FOR YOU, JUST REMEMBER HOW HARD

IT MUST BE THEM"

THERE IS SO LITTLE WE CAN DO TO COMFORT THE FAMILY 

OF THIS SWEET CHILD BUT I DO BELIEVE, AS HARD AS

THIS DAY WILL BE FOR THEM ALL, ESPECIALLY HER

PARENTS THEY WILL GAIN COMFORT IN SEEING A CHURCH

FILLED WITH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED, WATCHED AND

LOVED THEM THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE THEIR LIFE

HAD BECOME.

THANK YOU TO HER FAMILY WHO SHARED HER AND HER

STORY WITH ALL OF US THROUGH CARINGBRIDGE,

ALWAYS UPDATING US ON THE HAPPENINGS OF KYN.

NOW SHE SHALL REST IN PEACE AND HER FAMILY

WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GO ON WITHOUT HER UNTIL

THEY CAN BE TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN.

NOT AN EASY TASK.

KYN, FLY HIGH SWEET GIRL AND LET YOUR ETERNAL LIGHT

SHINE UPON ALL THOSE WHO LOVE YOU.

IDA WILL NOT TAKE AWAY PRIDE.

 It has been very hard for me to concentrate on blogging

or do anything, really with the aftermath of Ida becoming

just a little more evident with each passing hour.

My hometowns, Golden Meadow, Galliano, Cut Off, Larose,

and all the other surrounding towns are devastated with very

few homes not damaged from this Category 4 storm.

My whole life I have heard, 

"One big storm and our bayou will be gone"

We all sat on edge as we realized this was the perfect storm,

the one that could cause this catastrophe some of my

family came to Plaquemine, others were spread over a

few states. My besties had to evacuate as well.

We bunkered down... and She came through...

She tried, with all her might to end the life we knew...

but she could not do it.

There is too much pride, to much love for our towns,

before and after, people began to come together to help 

their fellow neighbors, friends and strangers.

My besties, both with devastation to their personal homes

have survived and will rebuild and continue to live on our bayous.

This blog speaks of the type of people who have surrounded

the first 40 years of my life.

Now I want to speak of the four people I call my children.

My son, his wife, my daughter, her wife...

Amazingly proud I am of these 4 humans.

Jesi and Del evacuated here as they were getting ready to 

move to NOLA for a career change.

Roddie was home from offshore and Katie was on call.

Before the storm Jesi and Del cooked and began picking up my yard.

Roddie although he knew they were here to do that,

still came to assure my things were picked up properly.

After.... all 4 of these children not only were here

if we needed anything, but Katie a hospice nurse, 

went right back to work to help her patients through

this difficult time. Roddie headed to our bayou with two 

of the grandgirls to see what could be done.

Jesi and Del heard of all the help that was needed and

made their way to the bayou to help one of the besties

get their house in order so they can come home.

It is a true testament of "you did something right" 

when you see your own children coming up to the plate

to aid their childhood stomping grounds.

Jesi and Del remain down there and will stay until 

either they are not needed or their restaurant opens up.

Roddie will be going down there every day to help where he can.

Katie has been working daily to make sure her own hometowns 

have the assistance they need as well as her parents.

IDA cannot, will not wash away pride.

Pride for what we work so hard for,

Pride for our communities,

Pride for those we love.

For me, in my little but vast world,

My Pride has brought me to tears more than once through this.

To see my children, their spouses do all they can for those 

less fortunate than themselves, well I am beaming with pride.

I had to call their Daddy yesterday to brag with him

as he would be the one who understands what it means to us

that we have made mistakes along the way of raising these two children

and they will make mistakes as well, but in the end, when most of

our parenting duties are done, we cans sit back and say,

"WE DID SOMETHING RIGHT"

I did not write the end of this story, the sentence I am about to share,

yet I have used it over and over since it was read to me:

IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT BEING AN AMERICAN LOOKS LIKE,

WATCH THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH LOUISIANA IN THE NEXT 

COMING MONTHS.

A to the MEN!