ALWAYS WAITING

I see you, all of you, lined up like a military regiment 7 ever so patiently. Your cover varies, your color varies, your shape varies, but you are what you are and may I add very patient. Innocent enough to look at, and even attractive in your own decadent way. Not a sound comes from you unless disturbed when then it is only sloshing or the clanging of glass from your ornamental cover. Are you the enemy or the protector? That is a matter of opinion. To some who do not see clearly yet, you appear to be the one and only that rescues them from their fears. To those of us who have "gotten it" you are the enemy, and a most deadly one at that. Just ask our families, look at our unhealthy organs, our demolished modes of transportation, the innocent we have caused to suffer. Yes, you are quiet, and sneaky to say the least. I give you that, and you are patient. You know how to wait and then you attack so cleverly we almost do not realize it. You use our own minds, emotions, and feelings as weapons to aid you. How clever you are. You are always there. Even though your numbers may dwindle you are constantly replenished in our factories. Yes, we have created you, or let me say we have perfected you. You will always be there and we have to choose, we have to either fight you or the thought of you, and what you falsely promise or we can fall from grace, fall from the wagon, and give in to what will be ultimate destruction. Yes we are those people who cannot handle you as the average Joe can. And you know it and pray we know it to. We are different, not bad people, just different. Your legion of troops have destroyed many of us, but many of us have survived and flourished after your attacks I for one am a survivor. I have been thought how you operate. I did not know before and suffered the scars of battle. You will always be waiting but I now along with other millions will try to be prepared.

BAYOU TALES ( 4 )

A warm welcome to all. Yesterday a tradition known as "La Tournoi" took place in south Louisiana. This tradition is unique and is not practiced anywhere else in our country. A gentleman named Marcellian Garrand founded our city and brought this custom with him from France. Marcellian Garrand was a general in Napoleon's army before arriving in our country.
"La Tournoi" consists of men who dress in medieval attire and they ride horses who are also adorned in medieval attire. These men compete for the tournoi championship by riding their horse at full gallop around an oval dirt track. They carry with them a lance and they attempt to spear metal rings which hang on posts located all around the track. Their are seven rings that they attempt to spear. Each ring symbolizes an enemy of the cotton crop. For instance one ring symbolizes the boll weevil and another synthetic fabric, and so on. The riders are not only competing for the most number of rings speared but they are also timed from start to finish therefore their speed is also used in determining the outcome of the competition. Each rider is given three attempts around the track in three separate rounds. Their times are calculated and they are given 10 points for each ring speared. The rider with the quickest time and most rings is the winner. Prior to beginning the competition each rider is presented a scarf by his wife who then ties it to his lance for good luck. This competition can be dangerous as the rider must race around the track, control the horse with one hand and attempt to spear the rings with the other.
I remember as a child attending this event which was held across the street from my home. It has since moved out of town so as to have a dirt track to accommodate the riders and horses.
This event is held once every year on the second Sunday of October. Laizzes Le bon temps roule', cher.