Le Pont
VOL 8, No. 5
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olcajun@ij.net
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A Festivals Acadiens Memory
There is a festival going on someplace in Louisiana every weekend, but for many people the most popular is Festivals Acadiens, held annually in Lafayette on the third weekend in September by Dave Borisenko
It was Saturday afternoon in Girard Park, the first day of the festival. Sheryl Cormier and her band were playing and sounding great as usual. I had my washboard and was strumming along with the music and enjoying myself. Suddenly, a little girl in an electric wheel chair pulled up beside me and was looking up as I tried to keep in rhythm. Her brownish-blonde hair was tied back and framing a beautiful smile spread across a cute little face. As I looked her over, I noticed her thin little legs were covered with surgical scars.
Kids are fascinated with the washboard and it is always fun to give them a chance to try it out. So I knelt over and handed her one of the spoons and we played together with Lynn and Edwina Sylvester watching us.
We chatted after the song was over, and I found out her name was Louise. My 27-year-old daughter is named Louisa, and Louise was pleased to hear that her name was similar. Louise told me she was 12 and lived in Lafayette, but had moved many times because her father was in the oil business and got transferred a lot. She was afraid that he would get another transfer and they would have to move again. Once again, she reminded me of my daughter. We were forced to move many times while I finished school and made several job changes. I still regret making her leave so many friends behind.
As we were talking she became distracted and looked down at her chest, then pulled a small, black, oval-shaped beeper-like thing out of her pocket and explained that it was her pet. She pushed a button to read her message. Then she pulled a second yellow pet out of her pocket and explained that it was that one that had spoken to her. She checked for a message and didn't find any again. Then she explained that the yellow pet was bad and was just playing a trick on her. Frankly, I'm old and stupid, so I thought it was a pager and offered the explanation that maybe the batteries were going dead. She looked at me with an expression of amused tolerance and assured me that her pet was just being bad.
We talked for a few minutes more. Every once in a while Louise would seem to lose focus and her head would lean over. It was hard to think of things to say because I wanted to be upbeat and not make her uncomfortable, but my heart was breaking. After she excused herself to rejoin her mother, I closed my eyes and made believe I was getting into the rhythm of my washboard, hoping that anyone who took a close look would think the tears on my face were sweat. Edwina later told me that she had put on her shades so no one could see her crying either. Edwina later spoke with Louise's mother and learned that she had cerebral palsy.
Louise and a woman began dancing a few minutes later and I played the washboard for them. Louise was whipping the wheelchair around in circles and scooting back and forth. The look of joy on her face was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Her group packed up to leave immediately afterwards, and I told her that if I had known she was a dancer we would have cut a rug together, or at least some sod. I asked her if she was planning to return the next day, and her mother said it was possible. I told her we would dance then, and I wasn't going to take no for an answer. That was the last time we saw her, but she will be in my memory forever.
It was further proof, as if I needed any, that music is a wonderful thing. When music possesses the right qualities, in the right environment, complete strangers feel like old friends, and troubles and aggravations get sent to the sidelines. No one has ever demonstrated that for me any better than Louise did last year at Festivals Acadiens.
Other things to do in September
File'!!!!!
Does anyone like.... File'? If you do, you're in luck. They will be playing at Skipper's on Saturday, September 26. We will help Skipper's celebrate their 18th birthday by dancing to their awesome music. Someone has got to do it, so it might as well be us. You know the drill, serve food at 7:00, give a dance lesson at 7:30, and crank up the music at 8:00. See you there.
Dance Vortex
Many of our members know Bart Ruark from Newberry, Florida. In addition to regularly making the long trip to the Bay area for many of our events, he is a highly regarded dance instructor who has taught many people to zydeco two-step. Bartman is one of several instructors who will be present at an exciting event called "Dance Vortex" planned for October 2-4 at Camp Riverview in the northeast Alabama town of Mentone.
The event will feature a weekend long series of dance workshops and concerts featuring the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Willis Prudhomme and the Zydeco Express, Dan Electro and the Silvertones, and the Nelson Ferry Waltz Band.
Meals, lodging, and admission to all of the weekend events are available for $89 per adult over 16 years of age or $45 for children under 16. You can also elect to attend the Saturday night party only for $41, which entitles you to eats and a tent camping site. Bartman passed the word along that Southwest offers a round trip to Birmingham for $128. Mentone is a two hour drive from Birmingham.
This event sounds like a blast. If you are interested and require more information, you can call Bart at (352)472-4424. Or you can send an e-mail to Dancvortex@aol.com.
Wings and Strings Update
Last month we told you about the group discount offered to Cajun Connection members interested in going to the Wings and Strings Festival on November 6 through 8 at Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City (whew). If we can organize a block of 100 or more, we pay $50 dollars each, a block of 50 or more will cost $55 each. Well, many people were concerned about the August 15 deadline, but Mitch Lind informed us that the deadline did not apply to the Cajun Connection. We can continue to organize our contingent until late October. Approximately 15 people have responded already, so we are off to a good start. If you are interested and haven't got in touch yet, call Dave Borisenko at (813)626-7928 to get your name on the list.
The Conscious Evolution of a Dancer
by Dave Borisenko
Dancing is certainly not for me.
I'm a clumsy oaf, can't you see.
It sure looks like fun, but I'm not the one.
A dancer, I just can't be.I'll watch you give it a try.
An average girl and guy.
You'll look like a fool. No, wait, you look cool.
I can't do that, can I?I guess I will take a turn.
Who knows, Maybe I'll learn,
To shuffle my feet, in time with the beat
well enough that I'll want to return. Did you ever think you'd see the day,
That I'd be dancing the night away.
It happened so fast, I'm a dancer at last.
Why the hell did I wait, anyway? What's that, you say you can't dance?
Get up and stop blowing your chance.
We'll bolt the door and drag you on the floor.
It's time for your life to be enhanced.Get up and dance.
The Cajun Connection
PO Box 447
Tampa, FL 33592
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