I had occasion to visit the Rip Van Winkle Gardens on Jefferson Lake the other day and enjoyed lunch with a group of retired colleagues. Teachers, aides, bus drivers, maids, et al who had once worked at the Pierre Part school and were now retired.
I’d never been to the Rip Van Winkle gardens and mistakenly had thought ahead that it was part of Avery Island. I’m not sure of any connection between this place and Avery Island but the restaurant was a lovely place and the food was good. I’m sure it would have been really gorgeous when the Azaleas were in full bloom but it was still a pretty place.
Fun to spend a few hours with old friends laughing and reminiscing about the old days at school and of course, all the differences we’d experienced and the student memories.
Conversation at lunch was a bit difficult with all the talking, but we still all had the opportunity to express our opinions about the current situation in the Assumption School District.
The subject of annexing Lower St. Martin Parish to St. Mary Parish led to a discussion at the recent St. Martin Parish Council meeting. I don’t know of any results but I personally think it would be great if this area—Stephensville, Belle River and Four-mile Bayou were part of St. Mary Parish where we’d be close to services, facilities, people, etc. Some of us have tried to get the St. Martin Parish Council on Aging to join with St. Mary Parish or even Assumption Parish but we were always unsuccessful I believe because such a move would somehow diminish or detract from ‘units’ a COA gets.
We are in spitting distance from St. Mary Parish and it would seem such an advantage to be part of one COA not separated by miles. When I was on the COA board it was a whole day to drive to meetings and I was unable to accomplish anything for my part of the parish as far as services for seniors. It always bothered (still does) me that the COA brochures boasted of doing so many good things for seniors in the parish yet excluded the lower communities. No respite care, or homemaker for our seniors! We might as well not have existed!
I’m writing this Baja column just a little after learning that Sally Angelle, Teche News Lifestyles editor, has passed away. I am so shocked to hear this and so sorry. I never was close to Sally other than as newspaper colleagues, but she was always so helpful to me and I considered her a friend even if a distant one. I can imagine she will be greatly missed by friends and family and definitely missed by the Teche News. I will miss her gentle reminders to get my column in by such and such a day. I fear I was often late. I read where Sally had worked for the Teche since l997 and it wasn’t much after that I started sending in my Baja Column.
I know it’s sort of silly to say this but on the morning I learn that Sally is gone, the beautiful, warm weather has also gone leaving a chilly north wind and low temperatures. Sort of an omen though I realize that’s sort of a superstitious thing to say. I’ll miss Sally.
Now I have to drag out my sweat pants and shirts which I’d just put away. Fortunately it won’t get so cold my new plants are in danger. My neighbor has a nice plastic greenhouse and I’d sort of thought she should have taken it down already but now I think she was smart to leave it up.
It is beautiful out right now---sunny, bright, dry but windy and cold. I may pass on my levee walk today.
lindacooke1939@ gmail.com.
By Linda Cooke
