On the way down to Breaux Bridge Sunday morning, I realized in Opelousas that I had forgotten my wallet in Many. Not a real big deal, since I didn't anticipate needing cash for anything. I'd just get a ten spot from the folks for the ride back to Many in case I needed something. I get to Breaux Bridge before anyone else. I helped Bock start setting up tables and moving equipment as people start showing up. Eventually Emily and her boyfriend Nick show up, followed by my folks, Granny, Nene and Maddie, Unlce Be and Nanny, Bart and his family, Travis and Kristen and Rylie, and Jacob and Charmin and Lisa and Brandon and JP and Brandon's pal Marcus. There were also other friends of Bock and Linda's who I hadn't met. A good crowd, good food, lively conversation, and lots of kids running around.
I laid off the beer, anticipating that I would be leaving pretty early to get to Many for the Seder meal at church. Then my buddy Ben called. He was on the way home to Duson from Navy Reserve drill in New Orleans and wanted to chat. He said he thought about dropping by to visit my folks in Pride. I explained that no one was there, but he was welcome to stop in Breaux Bridge and visit everyone. I looked at my watch and figured out that I wouldn't have a chance to visit with Ben for long if I was gonna make the Seder, so I called Kayla and told her to send my regrets. It's not all that often that I get to hang out with the extended family and good friends.
So Ben shows up, we all visit, eat some crawfish. Ben's wife, Jennifer, and their two boys were at the zoo, and they come by when Ben tells her of his whereabouts. The kids are riding around on the four-wheeler, and everybody gets a turn. JP, who is 22 months old, really like riding, and gets really upset when it is not his turn, crying "I wanna wide!" I told him to tough it out, but I don't think he understood. It was pretty funny.
Around 5:30, I decide I really need to get going. I say my goodbyes, and there are lots of them, and head out to the truck. As I am pulling out, I notice a clicking noise in the front end of my truck. I call Jacob over to see if he hears it, and the more I drive the worse it gets. It becomes apparent really quickly that I will not be driving my truck back to Many, or anywhere really. I was aggravated, more because now I needed my wallet and didn't have it than the fact that my truck was broken. But Bock assured me he would cover my expenses and I could pay him back and Mom used her AAA card to have my truck towed. I was staying in Breaux Bridge for the night. I called my boss, and she joked that she didn't believe that my vehicle was broke down: it sounded to her like I was at a crawfish boil out of town and got carried away. In my aggravated state, I told her that it didn't matter if she believed me, I wasn't gonna be at work Monday.
Emily asked if I wanted to join she and Nick and Travis at a bar. Hell yes. We ended up at a bar on the Atchafalaya Basin that had a bunch of houseboats hooked up to it. I got a chance to get to know Nick, who seems to be a really good guy. I also got to hang out with Travis, which I haven't done, really forever. I ended staying the night on Travis's couch. My truck was ready by 9:30 am Monday morning, and I was back at work at 1 pm. So the weekend was a little longer than usual, but it was most excellent.
No comments:
Post a Comment