Monday, April 25, 2011

"Smashed Again . . ."

The "dry line" crossed over us and we had another monster thunderstorm come through Weatherford. We have hail stones in the freezer that are the size of golf balls, proof so to speak.

The trees got trashed a bit but not like the other storm we had three years ago. The vents are not smashed in, the wind turbines are turbining but we did pick dents in the Mountaineer, mostly on the hood. I am sure there are dents on the roof too.

I walked the neighborhood and Post Oaks gave off the most apparent damage, lots of leaves and small branches. Last time, the storm cleaned off all the leaves, not so this time. So the damage is minimal.

But there is currently a tornado warning for our area and more thunderstorms coming our way. Tis the season of, so to speak. Nothing to do but bow one's head and pray for the least amount of damage.

The reservoirs need the water. So it is not all bad but it can be very damaging if a tornado touches down or a prolonged hail storm comes through.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

"Musings . . ."

Thursday we traveled over to Timpson, TX for Millie's funeral. Millie was Judie's first cousin, a step-daughter of her Uncle Ford Gremillion. She died of the dreaded disease, Breast Cancer. Millie knew what was coming as she was a registered nurse and a had a teaching certificate. So she was educated and knowledgeable.

Her married name was Trift and she had two children, a boy and girl. The son is married and lives in Timpson or near by. Both children are grown into their 30's. Timpson is a few miles from Nagodoches, TX, slightly to the north in the piney woods country speckled with oil wells. Timpson appears to be an old town, quite a few brick buildings but time has passed it by, it has but a little more than 1,000 inhabitants and I suspect most of them are urban dwellers, living away from the big city of Nagodoches.

She was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery there in Timpson. A nice and peaceful place on the edge of town and a nice place for her to rest forever more.

One of the ironies, is that we parked just off the pave path in the cemetery near Millies spot for last ceremonies. As we walked back to the car we noted we had parked next to the Morrison tomb stone. We both mused if that was a message.

After interment, we had a late lunch in the City of Timpson community center. A small but nice facility ideally suited for such a setting. It was in a little park on the south side of the city just down the road from both the funeral pallor and the tiny post office. We got to visit with the family once again.

We kibitzed with Billy and Cherry; Cherry is Millie's little sister and the same age as Judie. They went to school together and finished together at Poydras High School. We got married a year before Cherry and Billy.

Both Billy and Cherry looked well. We learned Billy, an MD and Surgeon, survived a bad Prostate operation where he nearly bled to death. He had signed a document to prevent transfusions (in today's age one can understand that directive with HIV/AIDS running around). It seems he checked himself out of Emory Hospital in Atlanta and went home to Big Canoe to recover. We learned he said some very bad things about University of Emory hospital, like incompetent, etc. He has both the credentials and the experiences to make such statements.

We saw Charlie Gremillion and his son, Nate as well as Patty and her husband. It was a smallish family gathering but then the occasion was not the happiest. This is virtually the only time we see any of them; we never see them in New Roads, the last time was at Taddy's funeral.

Millie is at peace now . . .

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"Crawfish are a coming . . ."

The LSU Tarrant Tigers Crawfish Boil is coming up on April 30. It will be at the US Corps of Engineers park at the top of the hill on the east side of the Benbrook Lake. It is pretty high rise, well above the dam which is to the West of the park.

You take Bryant Irving all the way to the South end. It tee's into a road, turn right and head toward the lake. Just prior to reaching the park, the road turns sharply to the right. On you left is the park with plenty of parking and a covered area. It has rest room facilities and is probably 8 or 10 acres, most of it mowed, but some of it with wild flowers remains un-cut.

Plenty of room for animals both pets and children. It is, however, usually windy. There will be plenty of drinks (free beer), and a sales table with all kinds of LSU stuff.

Gonna be fun. Geaux Tigers!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

"Wendel"

I sent a letter to an old fraternity brother, Joffre Fusilier. Well it turns out that Joffre has reverted to using his middle name, Wendel. It seems he only used his first name at LSU in both undergraduate and law school days. In his native Ville Platte, he was known as Wendel.

When he returned to Ville Platte to start his law practice he continued to use Joffre but ran into problems confusing his father's account with his over the name Jaffre. So he had to revert to Wendel again.

His son is also named Joffre. A fireman but attending college. Two daughters, one a lawyer that does not practice and one a nurse.

We had a long telephone chat. He is not much of a computer man, says his wife uses one at home and he has one at the office but not at home.

Anyway, another old fraternity brother contacted. Hank Bernard put me on to the Wendel name and I was successful getting through that way. I guess the Joffre addressed ended up at his son's house and in the ash can.

We talked a bit about Terry Dardeau. Sad, Terry returned to Ville Platte, bought a house and within weeks was dead. Yvie thinks Terry came home to die. Joffre (er, Wendel) said they were good friends but that Terry did not come to see him in the end. I don't think it was a snub, I think Terry was too sick.

I told him about Dwight Paulsen and Bernie Lafaso. He did not recall Keith Irwin at all. I found that strange but that is getting close to 50 years ago now.