Ripples

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 2, 2001

This is my first column of the New Year but I had to write it in the old year so my focus is still there and on some of the scenes I witnessed and experienced during the holiday season. There is always something different going on out there that is quite interesting and we need to only take time to think a little about what we see to gain an appreciation of it all.

For instance, perhaps you noticed some of vehicles driving by on the roads and highways that sported Christmas decorations. I loved it! In this country we are unique in expressing that which is important to us, I believe. Those decorated cars and trucks reminded me of the patriotic spirit portrayed by our citizens during the Iranian hostage crisis when, signs, posters and bumper stickers were plastered in yards and American flags and bumper stickers were all over our vehicles. Things like that bring us together.

Most of us have at least driven on the river road between St. John and St. James Parishes on Christmas Eve to see the burning of the bonfires. If you havent you simply must, because just about anywhere you go, bonfires are legendary. When you tell people from other places that you were “at the bonfires,” they are very impressed. On Christmas Eve, I spoke to my former boss and very dear friend, John Gass, who was in Tennessee visiting his folks. John is being transferred from Australia to take the reins for Chevron in Angola, Africa and was very impressed when I told him I was going to the bonfires. Just about anyone you talk to would like the privilege of seeing the bonfires.

Off I went to the home of James and Gloria Troxclair in Gramercy, the parents of my buddy, Dr. Dana. Each year they, like so many others in the area, have welcomed people into their homes for refreshments on Christmas Eve. Then, a small group of us proceeded to go on the levee and if you have never done that, you simply must.

Typical of the people in St. James Parish, you are welcome. We walked among the bonfires, enjoying the warmth from the fires and of the people we met or passed by. Dr. Dana took some great pictures with her high-class digital camera while I looked for people to talk to about bonfires. I found Billy Bourgeois, life-long native of the area, who was with family and friends at the “Bourgeois bonfire.” Billy has been involved with building bonfires since he was about nine years old and his love of doing it has never ceased. Its a lot of work but that doesnt stop them because its also a lot of fun, they say. Just about anyone I talked to said they just loved it and looked forward to it each year.

Hanging around, enjoying the fireworks (and I do truly do love fireworks) and hospitality offered in that area is great. Also enjoyable was the hospitality of Scrap Hymels family at their home. They have open house every year and a mob of people show up. There was even a bishop from the Baton Rouge Diocese having his first bonfire experience as he walked down the street relishing a bowl of gumbo.

There are plenty of visitors taking in the bonfires and they are impressed. Then, when the event is highlighted on national TV, there are plenty of us who feel special, too, because we have been there.