My name is Shiloh Maxwell Cormier.  I am nine years old.  

I live with my family in Grand Chenier, Louisiana, which is a very small town.  I say town 'cause it is exactly that.  It isn't even a city, it's so small.  I have a mama and a daddy, two sisters, and a brother.  My sisters are named Sheryl Marie (11) and Docia Michelle (7); as for my brother, his name is Scott Maurice, and he is 13.  We also have a cat, a mutt named Stinky, and a dog named Scooter; Scooter is a Schipperke (said like "Skipper-Key").

We are Cajun French.  We are descended from people who first came to Louisiana from Canada and France in the 1700's; they were called Acadians and they came here to Louisiana to escape religious persecution (I looked that up in a book); eventually Acadians became Cajuns, and that is how we got our name.  We are known as Cajuns today; we are mainly famous for our cooking and our music.

I have lived in Louisiana all my life.  I know nowhere else.  

I am going to be in the fourth grade when school starts back up in the fall.  I am glad school is over; I kept getting teased by Marty Bradshaw, who was this big sixth grader who think it is cool to pick on kids who speak French or aren't like him (big and popular).  Marty hates everybody; he's a very mean kid.  Hardly anybody likes him, especially those kids whom he picks on (like me).

Mama and daddy talked to the teacher about the teasing, but it really never did much good.  I still got it from Marty and his friends every day; they called me "Cajun Coonass" every day and it really made me mad.  They used to trip me whenever I went by them or smash my face into the food in the cafeteria.  I hated being at school; so glad it's over so I don't have to worry about that!

When I grow up, I want to be a Cajun musician.  I am learning how to play the Cajun accordion; my Uncle Cedric is teaching me.  He says I am a very quick learner; I already know how to play about a dozen different songs.  He is very proud of me.  

My favorite Cajun musician is Jo-El Sonnier.  I also like Belton Richard.  I want to be just like them when I grow up: play at the festivals or have concerts and have records with my name on them.  :)

Or maybe I will go into the Air Force and become a fighter pilot.  I think that would be so cool!

Well, I am going to go.  Mama wants me to get ready for supper; then we are going to go to church and maybe have a dairy queen when we get done.  I will write in here again; hope you liked reading about me.  Take care and God bless!  

~Shiloh M. Cormier.  :)