Par Reaud Cuisiner
When Spring starts to come around, I like to think of new life, new beginnings, and fresh starts. Two movies that are “April” films in my mind are “The Quiet Man,” with John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and a wonderful cast of Irishmen and Irishwomen. The other favorite is “April Love,” with Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. In The Quiet Man, Sean Thornton, John Wayne’s character, is an American prizefighter who comes back to Ireland to reclaim his family home, heritage, and the woman he finds and loves, Darcy Denahue, played by Maureen O’Hara, that dazzling red-headed Irish beauty. The color and spectacular, stunning beauty of the Irish countryside along with the rich story always take me back to Ireland, where I’ve never been, but my people are from. In April Love, the sweet, innocent nature of young love always gently nudges me into Spring as the song, April Love, reminds me of the rapture of love’s joys and new beginnings.
Last month we chatted about the invisible manure we sort of surround ourselves with as we react defensively to others who
may step on our toes and offend us. In April I like to think that manure-traps we have lain around our tender egos could become the tilled-in-the-soil fertilizer for new beginnings. John Wayne’s character was escaping the horror of killing a man in the ring, while Pat Boone’s character was hoping to be reformed from his reckless living in the city by the peaceful life of the country. Both characters started over. Both found peace and love in their new lives.
Louisiana infused a new life in me that I have carried in my travels. The ‘joie de vivre’ of the French influence encouraged me to bring some birthday-Luzyanner to my last belly-button birthdate, where people may pin money on your clothes on your special day. This raised $101 for the Hurricane Relief Fund on November 1st , 2024.
Thank You Becky Ponz for this tradition. I’m hoping to get it to catch on like it has in the Louisiana lifestyles.
If the Bible Belt of the Good Ole U.S.A. goes from Texas straight across to the Atlantic Ocean, I would like to declare that Louisiana is the very Belt-Buckle of the amazing Bible Belt. As the great Bible Belt Louisiana represents, this Belt Buckle has all the engraved symbolism of all of the Bible’s Best. This Buckle has every Christian, every kind of religious history stamped across its great history; the counties are even called “parishes!” This Great Buckle is awash with the baptismal blessings of “Water,” as well as “Spirit.” There have even been reported sightings, or apparitions, of Mary in Louisiana. Upon closer inspection one can see the Fleur-dis-lis on the robes of Mary of Knock, as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe. She knows a beautiful flower when she sees it!
Another Louisiana tradition I was able to share with my granddaughter and her classmates was “Fat Tuesday.” We made paczkis and shared them with her friends and class. Mary has repeatedly stated in her apparitions that the best fast is bread and water.
We are now in the midst of that season where we learn to sharpen our practices of perfection…prayer, fasting, and alms … e.g. Lent. Forty days is a good number for initiating or restoring habits, practice, self-discipline, or correction. As it says in Proverbs 12, verse 1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” (This is the only place in the Bible where I have found the word “stupid”).
Spring can be the time of “tilling” the soil of our lives again so that we may receive the good seeds. Use that old poo to fertilize the ground around you … and plant flowers.
Plantar Vos Fleurs Dans Du Bon Engrais
Par Reaud Cuisiner
(Plant your flowers in good manure … By Ron Cook)
** Photography by RAD (Roger the Artful Dodger)
