Gratitude for a warm welcome in Calcasieu and Cameron Memorial Day Weekend

[MathGeek]

One always wonders if the Memorial Day weekend crowds might somehow rob the joy from the weekend. Perhaps I began to sense something special this weekend when I worked with the most polite and efficient young lady registering my car at the LA OMV office in BR on Friday morning. We rolled into LC Friday afternoon and hit the Walmart to pick up some essential fishing items and stock up on food for the weekend. Often, the late afternoon before a long weekend can be pretty crazy at Walmart, but in spite of the crowd, everyone was extremely friendly and we managed both some great conversations in the fishing isle as well as an efficient harvest of groceries and checkout. Then we hit JTs to get some crabs for bait. Both the parking lot and the counter were busy, but service was fabulous, the other customers were friendly, and a very friendly gentlemen admired my rig in the parking lot and we struck up a great conversation. In spite of a busy Friday on the holiday weekend, everyone was very polite as I turned the boat around in the parking lot (JTs can be tricky pulling a boat).

The children were a bit tense when we hit Hebert's yesterday morning for the creel survey, with some of the usual teenage snapping and such. But the friendliness of the anglers and crowd immediately put everyone at ease and in spite of having weekend plans beyond fishing, almost everyone we asked let us weigh and measure their fish, some even complimenting my children on their politeness and interacting very positively. We measured fish until 1:30 or 2:00 pm and then my younger son (the lead on the project) decided to head for the jetties.

We stopped for icees and snacks at a gas station where 384 and 385 intersect, and both the proprietor and the deputy in the store were extremely gracious and kind interacting with my children. And then the folks pulling out at the jetties boat ramp were also fabulous and gracious. Everyone was tired and hungry after fishing, so we stopped at T-Boys (on Route 27 where the W Creole Hwy turns back to the North). Not only was the food fabulous, but even though we walked in right before closing time, the staff was friendly in the extreme both to me (long haired, scruffy, and smelling of fish and crab) and also to my three teenage children.

It is great to be back in SW Louisiana. I hope everyone appreciates the tremendous blessings we have here, and I'd like to thank everyone for a warm welcome to my children and I. I hope everyone continues to have a great weekend.