Louisiana in Tennessee is more than willing to try to help her friend in Kentucky who is having some "issues" about the disabled.
Tuesday, May 3, 2005, 10:43 a.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Jenna Fiona~
I am glad that you wrote back; I was afraid that you wouldn't because of your feelings about people with disabilities. That is so sad that your parents shunned your mother's cousin because of her mental incapabilities; that is awful! But I hope that you rise above this negative thinking and learn that people with disabilities are people too, and that, if given a chance, they can teach people much about the world in itself and human nature. In fact, I am physically disabled: I recently had lifesaving back surgery that rendered me with crippling pain, and I have been pain-free for almost two months now; and it has been nothing but a miracle in my life! I walk on a cane now, but hopefully, within a few weeks, I can ditch the cane, and I can then walk unaided, for the first time in YEARS. I also have epilepsy and am prone to seizures, but happily, medication has controlled my seizures, and I have now been seizure-free for over 1o years now.
My husband, Bill, is also physically disabled, and he also has mental problems (depression, he is bi-polar depressive, but as long as he remains on his medication, he is fine); but God has gotten him through the worst of times, and he is more than willing to try to overcome his problems with the help of our Lord God.
I thank you for telling me more about your children, Travis, Reba, and Loretta. They all sound lovely; and I hope that you DO add to your family. I think adoption would be a very wonderful thing for you to do, especially if you take on a child with special needs. That would help your thinking and your outlook about people with disabilities, and it would open a whole new world for you. I will lift your name up in prayer, do you mind if I do that? If so, I will put your name on our prayer chain at my church, Christ Community Assembly of God, and we will pray for you on Sunday morning before the morning services. Our children are growing up fast, and they keep both my husband and myself so busy! But it is something that we wouldn't trade for even a million dollars!
That is okay about your not being a seafood fan. I have always loved seafood; I was raised around shrimp and crawfish, and seafood to us Cajuns was a integral part of our life (and heritage). Cajun music and zydeco music ARE similar, but they ARE different. Zydeco is more rock and roll or rhythem and blues while Cajun leans more towards country/western. Some of the more important songs in country music have been standards in Cajun music, "Jambalaya" by Hank, Sr. (Hank Williams, Sr., that is) and Brenda Lee, "Cajun Moon" by Ricky Skaggs, and "Jole' Blon", to name several, and several Cajun singers have made it to the big time in the persons of Jimmy C. Newman, Doug Kershaw (and his cousin, Sammy), Jo-El Sonnier, and young accordion phenom, Hunter Hayes, who is barely into teenagerhood. He has been at it since he was but a mere tot; and he has only improved and gotten better as he grows older. Now you can soon add my daughter, Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux, who, at twelve, has already sung at the Grand Ole Opry several times, has opened shows for people like Loretta Lynn, Jimmy C. Newman, and "Alabama", to name a few! She has also appeared on several national talent shows ("Star Search" and more recently, "America's Most Talented Kids"), and she has performed at many important fairs and festivals across the U.S. She performed at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival just this past weekend, and she did a real bang-up job; the audience just loved her!
Well, Jenna, I must go now; I am at work, and I am fixing to go to the cafeteria, so I can eat. I will continue this letter later. Take care, and God bless! Thanks again for writing! Do write again soon!
(((HUGS))) and love, your new Tennessee friend, Louie May. :D
You've got the talk down, friend, and you're teaching too. I like that you told us this was part one and made it easy to connect to the next letter. I hope you'll do this with more of your pieces. It will help spacey people like me figure out where we left off when we miss time between your writes. These are fantastic human interest pieces that seem very real, Karen. Keep it up. ~~Nordette
A poignant story about letting go of a narcissist in your life. Have you ever been attacked FULL force by a narcissist? It's the closest thing to being stabbed over and over in the back.
Tuesday, May 3, 2005, 10:43 a.m., C.S.T.~
