SALUTE TO DEVERY HENDERSON, NFL CHAMP-(and other stuff)

If you’ve kind of forgotten the New Orleans Saints big victory in the Super Bowl this year, the people of Opelousa did not. For starters, I noticed this sign on a local business window-

We happened to be camped close to Devery’s house where last night’s party was long, and joyous and loud. But we didn’t mind. So, today, we went to a local parade honoring Opelousas’ Native Son, Devery Henderson.

The admiring little kids, cheering their idol, were seeing the possibilities for their future as they watched Devery himself out on the street throwing beads to everyone.

He came up to an ederly woman sitting near us and placed beads around her neck. A talented player and a nice guy.

After the parade we ate at the Palace Cafe which is next door to Jim Bowie’s boyhood home. A 300 year old oak tree stands in front of the place and is known as the Jim Bowie Tree. I paced it off and the roots alone spread 30 feet along the sidewalk.

The visitor center has information about Bowie and his part in the battle at the Alamo.This set of knives, donated to their museum, was made from drawings of Bowie Knives. Jim’s brother developed the knives, Jim made them famous.

Yams are grown in this part of Louisiana and celebrated with a Yambili every October with music, a recipe contest and good food. Getting ready for it in Vieux Village, I admired these painted guitars.

The promised recipe from Tony Chachere’s book:  Yam Candle Cakes

5 cups grated raw yams

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup oil

4 eggs separated

1/2 tsp cinnaomon

2 1/2  tsps nutmeg

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsps baking soda diluted with 2/3rds cup water

1 tsp. salt

2 cups chopped nuts

1/2 cup raisins

i cup cane syrup

1/2 cup coconut

8 to 10 empty soup cans.

Cook yams with 1 1/2 cups sugar about 3 minutes. Cool and add vanilla. Set aside. Cream remaining sugar with oil. Add egg yolks and spice. Sift some of the flour into a bowl and mix. Continue adding flour until all has been blended. Mix soda with water and add to batter along with salt, nuts, raisins, syrup and coconut.Stir in yam mixture. Beat egg whites and fold into batter. Pour batter into well greased cans, leaving 3/4 space for rising. Bake at 350* for one hour. Yields 60 servings.

Oh When The Saint, Came Marching Down The Street…

Yesterday was laundry day for us and it was also the day Opelousas, Louisiana celebrated its hometown hero, Devery Henderson, #19 who plays for the World Champion New Orleans Saints Football Team. No other members of the New Orleans Saints were in attendance the best we could tell.

As luck would have it, our laundromat was along the parade route so we planned the timing of our laundry so that we would be finished with that chore and we could set-up our folding chairs and have a front road seat. It was a perfect day for a parade with bright sun and a temperature of about 69 degrees.

It was like deja vue Mardi Gras complete with beads, candy, plastic cups and tiny football-throwings to the crowd lining the parade route! Leading the parade was Devery Henderson, #19, himself throwing beads to the crowd. He was followed by about a one-hour parade of marching bands, etc…

We were told he lives in a very nearby neighborhood not far from our campsite. Last evening in the lower part of our campground they held a party to celebrate their local hero. There was quite a crowd, but as always in our Southern Louisiana experiences, they were well behaved.

As an outsider looking in, it must be quite an achievement for a young man from a small Southern town to play for a World Champion ball team.

To top off the day, Mary ended up with more beads to add to her 25 pounds of beads she collected from our New Orleans Mardi Gras experience about four weeks ago. Just what she needed was more beads!

To see the other 30 photos I took, click this link…
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver/OpelousasLA031310

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com