The phrase “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” probably entered the vernacular through countless songs and other greeting-card type scenarios, but it has remained in the vernacular because of the truth in those words.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many residents of New Orleans learned the meaning of those words first hand as they saw people and places they had come to take for granted wash away in the muddy floodwaters following the storm.

Well, on Monday the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish nearly learned that lesson the hard way as well.

As reports of the fire at Jacob’s World Famous Andouille in LaPlace rolled in, many were also seeing visions of their favorite local recipes go up in smoke. And many probably also thought, “I pass that place every day. Why didn’t I stop in when I had the chance?”

Well, luckily such thoughts turned out to be overreactions, and Jacob’s reopened Thursday. But don’t let those sentiments fade like the smell of smoke in the air.

On Wednesday, L’Observateur debuted its guide to tourism in the River Parishes, “c’est la vie.” It is filled with places locals pass every day but which many have never taken the time to stop and explore.

So don’t wait until it’s too late. Any of these locations could be taken away by fire, wind or water in the blink of an eye. Be a tourist in your own backyard.

Because life here in the River Parishes can be pretty sweet — if you let it.