Largely due to recent crime waves and unrest in our cities, we've made a concerted effort to stay away from cities. We try (when we can) to shop local and support family businesses - mom & pop stores that built things from the ground up with blood, sweat and tears. In many of our towns, Main Street is drying up, boarded up storefronts because it is hard to compete with the large retailers.
Our town, and many more, across our fruited plain is alive. This weekend Jennings (our town) is hosting Jennings Alive Fall Festival at Founder's Park from 9AM to 2PM. Main Street will be blocked off. There will be live entertainment with Gritz & Gravy live on the pavilion and there will be booths of shopping, family fun, and great food! We intend on being there. Later there will be movies at The Strand, our historic movie theatre.
On Tuesdays, there is free music in an event called, "Turn it up Tuesdays." On a beautiful night, we arrived to enjoy the music. Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin' Cajuns were playing and a whole lot of folks showed up with lawn chairs to enjoy the music. There was a dance floor up front where people were "cuttin' the rug."
They are a six member band and play the accordion, drums, base, guitar, keyboard and fiddle and play a wide variety of cajun, swamp pop, zydeco, and country music.
The local chapter of the FFA had a booth offering po-boys for sale. The hungry crowd supported them and they sold out before the show was over!
We visited with friends and swayed to the music. Tricia wanted to get an up-close view to watch the dancers' smooth moves. I have two left feet, so I was a spectator, you might say.
Small town America has difficulties, to be sure, but the heart and brotherhood and neighborly spirit is alive and well. We'll make it a priority to show up at most of these events and support the revival of small town good times. Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!!)
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