At some point in our lives we’ve all heard a southern-accented joke from well-known comedian Jeff Foxworthy – you know, the ones that poke fun at “rednecks” and gives you a laundry list of ways to tell if you are one or not. And if you’re a self-declared Cajun or from southern Louisiana – you can probably recite a thousand Boudreaux and Thibodeaux wisecracks to anyone who will give ‘em a chuckle.
But how do you tell if you’re really a true Louisiana southerner?
Does your name have to end in the letter X?
Do you have to own a pair of not-so-fashionable white rubber shrimp boots?
Are the savory tastes of crawfish and crab necessary in every meal?
Does every other word that comes out of your mouth have to sound less like English and more like broken French?
Do you have to share your home with some exotic pet that you rescued from the bayou like a baby alligator or young egret?
If so, then you’re going to love what I’m about to tell you.
My aunt came “down” for a visit a few weeks ago and told me a story about her childhood friend who had a nutria as a pet.
The little critter practically lived in her house – it even slept in the bed with her.
Call it what you will, but that sounds like more than an animal lover to me – it sounds like a true Cajun.
Mais cher, I like animals and I like to think of myself as a Cajun, but having a nutira as a pet is a little too animal friendly for my comfort.
Although I think that wild animals running through my home could definitely land me a spot in the running to be a true Cajun, but I think I’ll stick to airboat rides and ancestry.
Questions? Comments? Story ideas? Email Lifestyles Editor Heather R. Breaux at heatherb@heraldguide.com
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