There is comfort in certainty. If we knew the Creator’s blueprint, were privy to the script, we’d no doubt evaluate our actions/choices through a different lense. Succumbing to the unavoidable game of “what if”, I’ll admit fantasizing of a life free from the multiple tumbles whose aliases scream TROUBLE.

There’s an old joke many of my Southeast Texas and Coonass brethren will know. We feel it because we ain’t too proud to realize “ashes (turn) to ashes”. I’ve heard it in speeches, read it in books of philosophy and witnessed its likeness, as a troubled mind fought for freedom from singular thought. This evening I will tell the tale as I heard it from my Brother, David Nelson:

Seems there was a man by the name of Boudreaux (he and Fontenot get more play than the skeleton of an Aggie intent on a game of hide and seek) who was a religious sort. Staring into a black cloud riddled with evil intent, boisterous booming acoustics accompanying natures electric light show, he planted his backside firmly in the rocking chair his beloved Gran made squeak on that same porch where he now rocked. A man of experiences, scars and regrets, that day he’d set right here for hours contemplating the “whole damn thing”. For the most part he rested, at peace with his effort. Confident in the Word which had lifted him from the ditch he’d occasionally wallowed in, Boudreaux dismissed the slicker covered Deputies first summons from the street.

“Mr. Boudreaux the storm is coming. Let me take you inland.”

“No, no, the Lord will provide”, he said. Not that the Deputy could hear. He could barely catch a glimpse of Boudreaux’s dismissive wave. The two babies and a wife at home, putting his own safety forefront , the young Deputy departed. And, the water continued to rise.

Boudreaux, steadfast in the miracle of the Lords deliverance, watched Gran’s rocker float towards Texas as a flat bottom boat arrived to assist. Struggling to keep the skiff tight to the hidden stairs that led to Boudreaux’s water laden porch, the young Game warden pleaded,

“Boudreaux, let’s go!”

Resolute, Boudreaux bellowed, “The Lord will Provide!”

Well, as I’m guessing, you all have figured by now, old Boudreaux didn’t make it. There were more attempts; Of note, the Coast Guard helicopter, who’d dropped him a rope ladder while he clung to the weather vane atop his colonial, lowland lying swamp palace departed. Their report included the attempt to rescue a man smiling as he drowned. Some said he seemed to be repeating a phrase…

One account, though I have never been in cahoots with any close enough to have had the pleasure, espoused that Boudreaux questioned Saint Peter as he reached the pearly gates.

“Why Lord did you not save me?”

Interrupted from the other side of understanding, Peter only listened to the response.

“Boudreaux, I sent you a State Trooper, a Boat and a Hellicopter! This whole thing started with Me teaching Y’all how to recognize a Good Thing”!
———————-
I did take liberty with David’s way of telling it. He is the funniest Man I’ve ever met. I can’t remember why I started to write this diatribe, but along the way I visited so many Loves. Stories start and detours appear. I’m reminded of an old movie; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”. Isn’t that the truth? And thus, We come full circle.

That Was Fun…
Love,
WJN

Sent from my iPhone