Why Am I Still Here?

My two oldest children are struggling to figure out what they want to be when they grow up.  I recognize that is normal, but I personally never had that issue.  When I was in the 9th grade, I knew I wanted to go to pharmacy school (and I did, for a while).  I also knew the only place I wanted to live was OUT of Louisiana.  And I did that, too, for a while.  I came back not because I needed to come home, but because there was a really good job available.  And now that I’m back, maybe I’ll stay this time.

I’m trying hard to change my attitude about living in the South, and Louisiana in particular.  I do love the people, the culture, the food of South Louisiana.  But after living in Colorado, I now know how much I H-A-T-E the weather.  (Yes, hate is such a strong word; I don’t know a stronger word, or I’d use it.)  To be clear, I don’t mind when it’s 100 degrees with high humidity in August.  That’s normal and expected.  What I abhor is 80 degree weather in January and February.  The absolute best thing in Colorado, besides the view, was four distinct seasons, on schedule.  Here, in Louisiana, we have “hot” and “real hot.”

So for Christmas my youngest child gave me a cute little book titled “Why I Still Live in Louisiana: 101 Dang Good Reasons.”  I found about a dozen good reasons that apply to me, and have been considering a few others of my own.

1. This is “home” for my girls – they are making friends, building lives, and learning to love jambalaya (they even make fun of people who don’t know what it is).
2. The people here are fantastic (maybe that’s true everywhere you live; my best friend is a guy I met in Colorado, and lives in another state now; leaving Magnolia was the first time I felt like I was leaving home).

and from the book:

1. Coffee with chicory (and real beignets).
2. The humidity eliminates the need for skin moisturizer.
3. No need to leave home for a taste of French culture (this is from the book; if you’ve been to France, you know this place is quite different from France – but still the culture here is unique).
4. The Green Wave (it’s in the book, even though the cover of the book is purple and gold).
5. Every day is a good day for a parade (and at parades in Louisiana, you get “prizes” just for watching).
6. If you don’t like our accent, hang around a while – you’ll sound just like us.
7. We know the secret of a life: a good roux (one of my favorite cookbook titles really captures the importance of this:  “Who’s your Mama, Are you Catholic, and Can You Make a Roux?”).
8. We’ve proven that politicians are irrelevant.
9. Muffalettas.
10. Jambalaya.
11. Around here, “cher” means dear, not “Farewell Tour.”   (great billboard, which I had to explain to my kids – “Got milk, sha?”).
12. Creole Cooking – widely imitated, never matched.
13. Andouille sausage (along with boudin, cracklins, and hogs head cheese)

So, I suppose unless and until  the boss says “we have a new assignment for you” (in which case going to Timbuktu sounds better than being unemployed), I’ll hang around this time and quit fussing about the weather and focus on all the great reasons to be from Louisiana (even if most of the things I’ve listed are southern things, and I’m a Yankee from Shreveport.)

Slow Learners

The nurse at work told me about one of the cleaning ladies who got fired last week for having her cell phone in the plant (not allowed for a variety of reasons, including intrinsic safety and uncontrolled cameras – gotta keep those trade secrets secret).  She came back the next day and begged for her job back.  Today, she stopped at the clinic and asked him to hold her cell phone because she had been called in to see the boss and didn’t want to get caught with her cell phone (again).

Many years ago I worked at a paper mill that also owned a small short-line railroad.  I had to go out and collect noise exposure data on the track repair crew, which meant I stood around watching them work all day.  I do that a lot.  Watch people work.  Tough life, but…   Anyway, the operator of the machine that lifted the track and inserted new ties kept forgetting to lift the outriggers before moving the machine.  The foreman (who was helping me watch them work) yelled at him to stop the machine and lift the outriggers, then turned to me and said “You know, it’s somethin’ you gotta tell a man his work e’ery day.  E’ery Day!”

I have a good laugh thinking about slow learners like this, wondering what it takes to get their attention.  And then, I realize I’m one of them.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul reminds us to “pray constantly.”  Not because God needs to hear from us, but to remind us of who He is and what He can/will do for us.  It’s the same (for me) with daily Bible reading.  If I’m not reading it “e’ery” day, I quickly forget His promises and who I am (His creation, His servant, the love of His life).

Just mark me down as a slow learner.

Making a Comeback

The stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, the tree has been decorated nicely, the last exam has been taken, and the last term paper has been turned in – and now I can breathe again.  And come back here to share a few thoughts with you now and then. I do still have to work on my capstone project, but that’s really a work-related thing, so I should still be able to check in here once in a while.

I still have not developed a solid daily Bible reading habit, but I have returned to my effort to read and understand the book of Revelation.  The reading part I’m doing okay with.  Understanding, not so much.  I do, however, recognize the overarching message, and I try to keep this in the front of my very crowded mind:

Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:17-18).

There’s been a lot of stress going around our house lately, but as this this verse tells me, and James McClellan used to remind me “I read the end of the book. We win.”

On to the victory (and the capstone project).