Fried Chicken
Chicken Stew
Field Peas
Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Mustard Greens
Cornbread
We took our seats in a booth and spotted a waitress talking to another lady stirring food on the steam table and called her over. With a stern look, she put her hands on her hips and said, "Can't you see I'm busy?" Then she burst into a big smile, walked over and said, "What can I get for you, sweetheart?" Time slowed to a snail's pace as we visited and sipped on strong black coffee that you could stand a spoon up in. The cup never got half empty before the waitress refilled it with steaming hot coffee.
As we exited the Palace Cafe and walked eastward about 20 feet, I spotted a huge live oak tree that created cool shade for a whole city block. It was the Jim Bowie Oak with a historical marker. The tree is 350 years old. That means it began growing in the year 1667. That kind of makes you scratch your head. If that tree could talk... Jim Bowie likely sat under this tree and enjoyed coffee while he sharpened his famous Bowie knife and told tales of his adventures. Sadly, he never returned from the Alamo. Anyway, I copied the inscription of the historical marker below, if you can't read it.
Jim Bowie Oak
This giant live oak tree is over 350 years old and is named in honor of legendary adventurer and hero of the Battle of the Alamo, Colonel James "Jim" Bowie, who lived in Opelousas for part of his life.
The Jim Bowie Oak is a charter member of the Louisiana Live Oak Society. The Jim Bowie Courtyard, located behind the oak, is built on the site of what is believed to be a blacksmith shop belonging to Bowie.
I've watched both movies of The Alamo, the 1960's version starring John Wayne and the 2004 version starring Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton. The bravery and valor of a band of heroic men (Texians and a band of volunteers from Tennessee) as they made a last stand against General Santa Anna's men always fascinates me. Those guys seem larger than life... Davy Crockett, William Travis, Jim Bowie...
I love this quote and its message of courage and conviction:
"I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country. VICTORY OR DEATH." excerpt from William B. Travis's letter To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World
In THIS POST FROM NOVEMBER 2015 I tell of our history with the Alamo. Tricia and I were engaged in San Antonio and that post, if you click on it, tells the sad story of an oak tree we grew from acorns I picked up on the day we were engaged 25 years ago from one of the Alamo oaks and how we are trying again 25 years later with another.
Below is a photo of that oak. While it's not quite as impressive as the Jim Bowie oak, and is only 16 months old versus 350 years old, it is a touchstone.
Surrounded by a world in which everything is disposable, temporary, and fleeting, it is nice to have an oak tree or a marriage that stands the test of time. Remember the Alamo, indeed.
Hey Cher! I was writing an Instagram post about a recent visit I made to the Jim Bowie oak and thought I should google to see what else had been written and found your post from 2017. I grew up in Opelousas and don't remember hearing much about Jim Bowie living there and always wondered about what he did there, but no one seemed to know. As an adult researching my family tree I learned he and his brother Rezin had a sawmill in Washington, LA and my ancestor Joaquin de Ortega (father of all Ortego's in Louisiana) was a witness to Rezin's wedding at St Landry Catholic Church in whatever building it was back then. Anyways, I followed your blog and am glad you are still posting. I don't think I have Sonnier's in my tree, but I do have Veillon, Manuel, Fontenot, Landreneau, Tate and Lejeune so that should cross somewhere with yours. .God bless, cousin. .
ReplyDeleteI think calling Krotz Springs a small town is accurate. But the City of Opelousas is not a small town. It is a city. Steeped in history since its founding in 1720. Opelousas has a casino and race track plus many hotels, festivals, industry and tourism. I think that was unfair of you calling Opelousas a small town located between Eunice & Krotz Springs.
ReplyDeleteYikes! Phil, please forgive me. I didn't mean to be unfair or offend you. You are correct. Opelousas is a city. I am from Kinder, which has population 2,500 give or take. That is a small town, I think we can both agree. I currently live in Jennings, which has around 12,000 population - give or take. I'm not sure if that is a town or a city? I've lived in Houston, Texas that had 5.7 million people in the greater metropolitan area. That felt like a city. I've also lived in Baton Rouge with a population in the greater BR area of 802,000. That felt like a city. I have to admit, I am partial to the feel of small towns. So much character and charm. I like the city of Opelousas and meant no ill-will.
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