Ci et Ca Avec Belle

OH HAPPY DAYS  !!!!!

This is one of the happiest months of the year!  We love it!  The warmer weather after a cold winter, putting up winter clothes, taking out the cooler clothes for the summer, and like the school students, looking forward to the end of school.  

This month is filled with many, many exciting activities including the graduation of the seniors as they move on to their lives in the future.  It is a happy, and yet sad time also. The parents watch as their dear ones finish their high school years and plan for their future in college, technical schools, work or the military for more education and training.  However, it is a time of pride on behalf of the parents as well as their graduating youngsters for their many accomplishments.  

In addition to the school activities, May is the time to honor our loved mothers on their special day which will be held on Sunday, May 11th. Take time to remember your mother  and the many, many things that she did with you and for you.  We hope that your dear mom is still with you, and if not, like ours who has gone to her Heavenly home to meet the other dear departed family members, take  time to remember her and honor her in some way.  We are what we are today thanks to our loved mom and her all encompassing love. 

May is also the time to honor our military who gave so much to keep our country safe and free.  Memorial Day is Monday, May 26th, although it had always been on May 30th until the date was changed each year to provide for a three day weekend.  That helps those working to have a long weekend, however, in some ways we are prone to forget the reason for that special day.  We pray that everyone will honor our heroes in someway.  The American Legion has special programs as well as placing American flags on the graves of all who served our country.  We love seeing the cemeteries with the beautiful and colorful flags waving in the breeze as we say a prayer of thanksgiving for the service and sacrifice of these brave men and women.  Always remember them! 

We pray that this month of May will be a happy and memorable time for you and your loved family.

MEMORIES OF MAY PAST.....

When we were younger (much younger), May Day was a fun day in ways that included working with our mom and grandmother to prepare some surprises on this special day.  There were few flower shops in those years, our yard provided the flowers for special occasions.  May Day was a fun occasion to surprise friends and neighbors with flowers which we picked early in the morning and made into small arrangements.  We went to the homes, put the flowers on the doorstep, knocked on the door and hid.  We loved watching as they opened the door, saw the flowers, but could not see who brought them.  It was a way to tell them that they were loved and we wanted them to have a wonderful and happy day.  We did that for many years until things changed and we lost some of the dear friends and our own grandmother.  It was just not the fun it had been,  we missed doing it and we still think about it every May 1st.  

Another ritual of May was performed at school as we had the Maypole dances in the school yard.  The colorful ribbons hanging from the tall pole were intertwined as we dance around the pole and met others going in the opposite direction.  This resulted in the intertwining of the ribbons.  It was fun, however, we had to be careful and watch or else we would mess up the ribbons and the dance could not be continued.  Other classmates would sing spring songs that they learned in the music classes in their classrooms.  The most popular was “Welcome, Sweet Springtime!”.  It was such a simple time, and did not take much to entertain us children.

CALENDAR POSTINGS....

These are a few of the important dates to put on your calendar for May.  Hopefully, you and your family can plan to attend these important days:

Rayne High School: Class Day....Friday, May 23 at 4:30 P.M.; Graduation... Saturday, May 24 at 9:30 A.M. at RHS north gym.

Notre Dame High School: Awards....Wednesday, May 7 at 10:00 A.M.; Mass and Graduation, Friday, May 16 at 9:00 A.M. in Church Point. 

There will be many more events that will be scheduled prior to graduation.  Please check the Rayne Acadian-Tribune for more information on up-coming school programs as well as the many services and activities held for the Memorial Day tributes.  Remember...”we owe them a debt that can never be repaid!”  Honor these heroes!

WE DID IT BEFORE!...

Congratulations to everyone for the honor of our city being named “Cleanest City” in the district competition conducted by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation.  There is no one person, or one group that can claim the work for this honor.  No, it was a true TEAM effort that involved many persons as well as the City of Rayne staff and workers to name just a few.  The Rayne Garden Club with Sepha Guidry as Director of this program and Mayor Roland Boudreaux spearheaded the work on this event and the  participants from various clubs, interested volunteers, home owners, businesses and City Police department ensured that everything that needed to be done was done.  Their cooperation to work together to gain this coveted honor was exemplary and we congratulate them all. 

However, we need to continue the clean-up efforts since we will again compete for the honor of the State Cleanest City award. This will require everyone working together again so that the City of Rayne will again be given that honored designation!  As the old song said, “We did it before and we will do it again!” And we WILL.

A LITTLE OF THIS AND THAT.....

..........Sad losses, but happy memories....The passing of two of our long time favorites was a loss to the movie world as well as the music scene.  Yes, we grew up watching Mickey Rooney in the early movies and enjoyed his career through the years.  He said that he began acting when he was two years old and had some old clips to show that he did.  He acted with some of the biggest names in movies including Elizabeth Taylor and our all time favorite, Judy Garland.  He brought humor and talent into a world recovering from the depression and continued with mature roles as he aged.  We were fortunate to meet him in Nashville long ago, as he was doing some shows there and we visited as we had lunch at the hotel.  He was so natural and enjoyed hearing of our memories of him as we were growing up.  

The other sad loss for us was Doris Day at the age of 90.  We loved her voice and had almost all her records.  On TV we enjoyed her great guest stars and great musical programs.  For our older generation, you remember some of our favorite songs that she recorded.  “Que Sera Que Sera” and “Once I Had a Secret Love” were two of our many favorites.  From there she went into movies which were humorous and always with a good looking man as her co-star.  They were fun to watch and one left feeling happy and usually with a big smile!  Even though we had not seen her for years, her music is still popular and we will always appreciate her! 

..........The pictures in Sidney Stutes wonderful article of the 1940 flood in Rayne of friends surveying the water in town brought back many memories for us.  Most homes had wooden bridges across the ditches in front of their homes.  The flood water washed them away into the streets and yards in town.  These became rafts for us to ride in the water rather than walk.  They were our early “surf” boards and were great fun.  We have wonderful pictures somewhere of Don Kolloway, one of the popular members of the Rayne Ricebirds floating on his “raft” in front of Rayne High School.  It was a terrible time, but for us kids and young people, we had creative fun in the water. 

One memory was when our parents rode the train from Rayne to Crowley to take pictures and cover the damage for the newspapers.  They told us they would be back on the return train to Rayne in just a few hours.  Remember, the train was the only way into/and out of Crowley due to the flood waters.  As the day passed they did not return.  We along with our three brothers went to the depot to wait for their return.  As day was slowing turning into dusk, we began to worry that something had happened to them.  We were crying, our brother Bob, climbed a large tree next to the depot building to see if he could see a train returning. Our older brother, Jim, walked up and down the track to see if he could see the train.  It seemed as though it was hours, but, after awhile, Bob started yelling that the train was coming!  There were four happy and excited children to know that our mom and dad were ok!  It was a wonderful homecoming and a promise from them that they would not return to Crowley again until after the waters receded. 

In memory of that occasion, our family purchased a memorial magnolia tree which was planted near the location of tree next to the depot. This beautiful tree will be a long time remembrance of that day long ago when four little ones became very afraid for the safety of their parents in that flood. 

..........The civic organizations in our town do outstanding work in sponsoring programs that raise money to help with their charities and other efforts for our citizens in need.  We are proud of them and all the work that is entailed to successfully conduct these events.   

The Lions Club recently held their Annual Radio Auction that was conducted three nights on Radio Station KSIG.  Businesses and individuals donated wonderful articles, good food, crawfish and other valuable items to auction on those three nights. These contributions were auctioned during the broadcasts. There were many listening to the radio to bid on the items that they wanted. There was lots of good competition between callers that made it a fun, but busy time. The Lions conducting the auction did a great job in broadcasting and keeping up with the bidding.   For not being professional radio announcers, the Lions did a wonderful job!  Maybe there’s a future for some to be on the radio!  Congratulations Lions for all of your work to make this a success, and to all who donated for the auction as well as everyone who called to bid and made some great purchases.  Many good programs and worthy people will benefit from this program. We thank you all. 

These important types of  programs are also being conducted by the schools in town also. Rayne Catholic Elementary recently held their annual Crawfish Boil which benefited the students and the school’s needs.  The Rayne High Band recently held a Fish Fry which benefited some of the needs of the band and it’s activities.  

The Catholic Daughters also recently held their annual Salad Bingo with funds raised going for programs and needs of the CDA No. 844.  

Even new street signs were given to the City of Rayne thanks to the donations of several groups in town.  The Crew of New Beginnings, Club Back of Town, YEAD BOYS social club, Beautiful Black Magnificent Ladies, Apollo’s Café and Boot Camp Riders combined their efforts to donate new Martin Luther King street signs which were installed by the City on the MLK drive.  This demonstrates the team work and support of the community to accomplish their goals.  Thanks to everyone for this endeavor. 

These are just a few activities of our busy city organizations and more exciting events will be held during this month of May.  Please watch for them and attend and support them.  The funds raised help others in Rayne with many worthwhile programs. 

Our great city is the result of leadership and caring to help others and is seen at the city level, to the individual organizations, both civic, religious, social and school.  Rayne will continue to grow and thrive thanks to all of these great groups and their activities.  Watch for the upcoming planned events... the Wheelin’ N Peelin’ Car Show; the 3rd Annual Clay Shoot sponsored by Rayne Catholic Elementary; and many others in May.  They need our support!  

..........It was a well deserved honor recently when the Acadia Parish School Board honored two deceased educators who were long time leaders to our school system.  Dr. John Bertrand, Superintendent,  who provided the leadership and expertise to lead the parish schools to outstanding status and respect by all. The naming of the School Board office in honor of Dr. Bertrand was well deserved.  He was superintendent during the years of integration of the schools in the parish.  He provided programs and consultants to help the school staff to work on any and all things needed to successfully integrate and consolidate the parish schools.  It was our pleasure to have been working at Crowley High during those years and it is with pride that we remind all that Acadia Parish was the first school district in the state to receive U.S. Office of Education approval for their Integration plan.  It took many years for some other school systems to receive that designation.  For Acadia Parish it was no accident, but rather, a comprehensive plan to meet the needs of all of the students in all of the schools in the parish. We are grateful for the experience we gained under his leadership.  We were also fortunate to work with him while he was on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.  We were working with the Bureau of Student Services and he was always interested in the student programs since we were working with all the school systems in the state. He was supportive of our program needs and we appreciated his expertise, comments and suggestions. 

The other honor was given to Sherman Wilson by naming the school board’s program building the Sherman A. Wilson Federal Program Building.  This is also a well deserved honor.  It was our pleasure also to work with Mr. Wilson on many programs during our time with the parish.  He taught us many things that helped us with our work at the schools and with the Federal programs. We appreciated the time, expertise, experience and wisdom that he gave us during those years.  We are happy for this well deserved honor for him.  Mr. Wilson’s leadership was evident in the many programs that he directed and the many, many educators who worked with him through the years.

In closing..... 

We would like to include this poem which we have used before and know that most of you are familiar with it.  But, in honor of mothers everywhere, we want to print it again and hope that it will help you to remember to honor all Mothers this month and every month. 

“A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? 

 And God said, “Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.” 

 The child further inquired, “But tell me.  Here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.” 

 God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.  And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.” 

 Again the small child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?’ 

 God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.” 

 “And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?” 

 God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.” 

 “Who will protect me?” 

 God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.” 

 “But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.” 

 God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.” 

 At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, bout voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.” 

 God said, “You will simply call her “MOTHER”.”

We pray that you will have a full and happy month this May and that you will be filled with joy, happiness, good health, family and lots and lots of love.

Until next time.....Adios, au revoir, auf

weidersehen and love to all.