This was how our trip started out. Snow in Dallas! Record snowfall this weekend. We left when about 5 inches has fallen. The roads were never frozen while we were driving and once we got around Longview the snow let up and roads were basically dry.
Maddy and Aaron posing with a Louisiana snowgirl. It's not every day you see on of these!
Baby alligators in the nature center at Black Bayou. They had all kinds of creepy crawly things in their including a bunch of snakes. None of the snakes they had were poisonous though so it did not have quite the creepy thrill of checking out the rattlesnakes behind possibly not quite shatter proof glass at the Big Red Indian in Ft. Sumner, NM.
Black Bayou. So peaceful. We really enjoyed our little walk around the bayou and the lake.
So this weekend we went to Monroe, LA to visit my cousin Jessica who is going to grad school there. We've been saying for the almost two years she's been out there that we were going to go visit and we finally made it. I was very excited to get to eat some cajun food and experience the Southern culture--something I vaguely remember from my childhood years in Beaumont, TX. However, when we got there, the more I experienced Louisiana the more I experienced a strange feeling of homecoming. Not to Beaumont, TX however, but to New Mexico of all places. I will list a few of the eerie similarities between Louisiana and New Mexico that I observed over our weekend stay:
- Terrible roads.
- High taxes on everything including food.
- Special foods that are a source of state pride. Crawfish is to Louisiana what green chiles are to New Mexico.
- Drive thru liquor stops. Actually these finally closed down in New Mexico a few years ago but in Louisiana they have drive thru daiquiri stops. They mix the daiquiri and then hand it to you through the car window and you drive away. hmmm. Scary.
- Lots of people on welfare.
- Beautiful natural areas, gorgeous scenery, and unique ecosystems.
- Litter.
- Jessica told us that people are always late in Louisiana. They joke that it is Louisiana time. Guess what? In New Mexico we call that manana time or if you live in the four corners area, navajo time.
- Suspicion of "outsiders".
One more funny anecdote. We were looking at for King Cakes in Wal-mart and Aaron asked the lady behind the bakery counter if they had any. She replied that they wouldn't have anymore until "neecher". Next year?
Us on the trail at Black Bayou.
Armadillo. We had to go to Louisiana to see one of these guys alive. He was on the side of the road as we drove away from Black Bayou. I think this was the highlight of the trip for Aaron.
This is her reaction to the Valentine Jessica gave her. It had a picture of a dog on it.
Maddy looked at her Valentines before church on Sunday. She got Valentines from my mom and sisters and Jessica. She thought they were pretty neat. She had a good time playing with them.
The river we were sitting over as we ate lunch on Sunday. It had warmed up enough to sit outside with a jacket on. We went to a hole in the wall cajun restaurant. I got shrimp etoufee and Aaron got red beans and rice. Yum! The river is apparently flooded right now because of all the moisture they've had this winter. The people we were with said that you can usually walk down to the trees that are out there in the middle of the river.
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But I really like the scenery and the 'old time' feeling you get down there. I would like to go back sometime, but not in a milk truck!
A few more similarities i think we talked about or at least that I thought about while you guys were here:
high crime rate
lots of drugs
obesity (I think there are a lot of overweight people in NM? - if not, the amount in LA makes up for NM's lack)
welfare
long lines at the grocery store
of course, don't forget: fun fun and more fun!!!