We have some new neighbors, the Bourques, who moved into our 'hood last week.  They are really cool.

The Bourkes are from Louisiana, originally.  They moved here to Tennessee because the father, Pierre, got transferred, on account of his job.  They relocated here to Nashville; hopefully they will stay a long time, because in the short time I have known them, I have found that I have taken a liking to them.

Besides Pierre, there's the mom (and Pierre's wife), Sarah Marie, and their three children:  a boy, Ethan Michael (he's my age, which is twelve), and two girls:  Maison Blanche (nine), and Yvette Michelle (seven).  They also have a dog, a 'Coon dawg named "Ti-Boy".

I love listening to the Bourkes talk:  they have the neatest accents, and they have the neatest foods.  I can smell their wonderful Cajun cookin' wafting into the nice, spring air, and it's enough to get my mouth to waterin' and my stomach to growlin'.  I tried some of their jambalaya (a rice dish with meat and veggies) and boiled crawfish (that took a little more time, but once I got used to eating the stuff inside the shells of the crawfish, I liked how the meat tasted), and tonight, they invited us over for gumbo (a soup with meat, seafood, veggies, and rice).

Pierre also happens to be a wonderful musician.  Just the other night (Saturday), I saw him sitting on his front porch, playing a small accordion; the music was heavenly.  I think I am going to like having the Bourques as next-door neighbors.  They are all very nice, and the kids are well behaved.

I have two brothers, Raun and Tanner (they're seven and five), and they are regular pains in the butt!  They are always finding ways to get me in trouble; this is when I wish I could be a Bourque kid and not have to worry about my brothers!

I know some of the kids will probably make fun of the Bourques because of how they talk (they talk in French at home, but when they're out or with us, they talk in English just as well), but I will defend them.  I think I am going to enjoy learning about their Cajun-French heritage and show a appreciation for "all things Cajun".

*to be continued.*