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NOVEMBER 2022 | VOL. 16 • ISSUE 11 | POVHOUMA.COM
CONTENTS | NOVEMBER 2022
Page 10
• VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 11
Page 14
CHIC 10 CHATEAU Play & Learn on the Bayou
EXTRAS
14
FAITH PREVAILS
Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman maps out the highs and lows of the job.
ON THE COVER
NOTE 06 PUBLISHER’S Celebrating Locals
18
FRESH, A FAMILY AFFAIR
Jaedon Burregi brings the Fresh to Galliano.
WORD, YA HEARD PROFFER
08 INTERVUE Say What?
verb (used with object) to put before a person for acceptance; offer.
26 THE OBSERVER
noun
The List
the act of proffering. an offer or proposal.
28 WE SUPPORT A
HEALTHIER FUTURE
WORD ON THE STREET
Know the Risks, Symptoms and How to Live with Diabetes
“Try this turkey and dressing,” she said, proffering a plate.
THE SCOPE 30 UNDER Playing DARTs with Space
32 RENDEZVOUS Where You Need to Be Around Town
Page 18
He happily accepted the generous proffer on behalf of the non-profit organization.
Photo: Misty Leigh McElroy
VISIT US ONLINE: povhouma.com
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How many naps do you take on Thanksgiving?
PUBLISHER Zero Zero
Brian Rushing ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Mary Downer Ditch EDITORIAL
Bonnie Rushing Editorial Director Heidi Guidry Yasmeen Singleton None! SUBSCRIPTIONS
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CREATIVE
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE |
MARY DOWNER DITCH • ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
CELEBRATING LOCALS My goodness, but how far we’ve come in a year! Often when writing my column, I glance back at the same month from last year, just to make sure I’m not writing the same thing! Last November, we were still in recovery mode from Hurricane Ida, and I, like most, was struggling to find things to be grateful for.
some of his most significant work in me during the times he’s silent. Hit the unfollow button: Ah, social media. We could talk about this one all day. It has its pros and cons for sure. But remember, you decide who to follow. If someone or something turns out to not be your cup of tea,
This November finds me in a slightly better mindset. While I am of course grateful for the lessons learned in the year between Novembers, I feel like I am in a better place. While this year has brought its struggles, I feel like the lessons learned were very valuable:
This November, we are introducing you to two individuals who also know all too well the struggles life can throw at you, but both of them have emerged stronger and willing to give back to the communities that have supported them. Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman truly manifested his own future by speaking the words aloud, “I want to be the police chief.” Chief Coleman proudly serves the community that he was raised in, giving all glory to God for the high and lows that come with the job. Learn more about Chief Coleman on page 14.
Embrace change: Between Covid and a hurricane, I think we all learned you can plan for the best, but embrace the inevitable chance for a change. Life can change in the blink of an eye, and we might as well embrace it.
Jaedon Burregi has stepped up in the Galliano community to breathe new life into the area’s only locally-owned grocery store. The Galliano Fresh Market provides a much-needed location where locals can shop and not have to leave the bayou. Jaedon shares his plans for the Market and the shopping center on page 18.
Invest in people who invest in you: Find your people. Life is way too short for one-sided relationships. Find the people who fill your cup, and be sure you fill theirs. Know that God is always there: Man, those seemingly unanswered prayers hit hard, huh… I have learned how to find God in the times when it seems like he is being silent or ignoring me. I’ve realized that sometimes, it’s me that is being too loud, with a schedule that’s too busy, technology that’s constantly pulling my attention away, or just my impatience. I’ve learned that God may be doing
reminders of the way I want to live my life. I know I have to take care of myself first, before I can help others.
don’t feel the need to comment. Just hit the unfollow button, and get it out of your life. Make every moment count: Life really does fly by. Take the vacation days. Make the memories. While these might seem basic and sort of cliche, I feel they are important
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We also share a little Thanksgiving love in this issue, with a few new recipes to spice up your table, starting on page 22, and an extra special edition of Intervue, with fun questions to break the ice at Thanksgiving dinner! I hope that you are able to find your own things to be Thankful for this season! POV
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INTERVUE |
SAY WHAT?
Five starter questions to break the ice at Thanksgiving:
EVAN IF YOU COULD RIDE ON THE BACK OF ANY ANIMAL IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY? I would pick a camel because it’s pretty interesting to ride one. It’s something new for me. I’ve never done it before!
MADISON IF YOU HAD AN EXTRA HOUR EVERY DAY, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND IT? If I had an extra hour everyday, I would spend it reading a book or catching up on TV! But since I’m still a college student, I’d actually probably just spend it studying…ha!
TRAVION PRETEND YOU JUST WON $5 MILLION. WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD BUY AND WHY? The first thing I would buy if I won that kind of money would be plane tickets to Australia. My son TJ is obsessed with going there. His dream is to visit the outback when he graduates, and I'd love to make it happen before then.
ANITRA IF YOU COULD BE FAMOUS FOR SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? An artist. Being an artist allows me to share my art with the world. Knowing that I can make a difference by sharing my perspective. I want my art to inspire change, and make people feel pleased while beautifying the world.
"SPUD" WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU GREW UP? I grew up outside of Gonzales, LA where it was safe. Our door was never locked. I never had a key to my parents' home because I didn’t need one.
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HOME + LIVING |
CHATEAU CHIC
PLAY & LEARN ON THE BAYOU BY MARY DITCH | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY
Where else can you learn about the Bayou culture, food, agriculture, festivals, and more? At the Bayou Country Children’s Museum, of course! Located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, this hands-on museum provides the type of recreational learning experience desired by parents and educators that has a lasting impact on child development. For children, play is a critical way to find out about new things. The ability to play is instrumental in scientific exploration, discovery, and creativity.
organizations embrace the love of learning and the power of play while celebrating our unique Cajun culture. The museum closed its doors in August 2021 in preparation for Hurricane Ida, only to find the resulting damage was too much to reopen again right away. The museum recently held their grand reopening celebration in October 2022.
to have an entire reconstruction of the floors, walls, and roof, and that took some time,” said Rebekah.
The museum reopened with many of the community’s favorite exhibits including the sugarcane harvester, oil rig and platform, farmer’s market, kitchen and restaurant, bubbles, estuary water table, shrimp boat, Rebekah Quinn, Interim Executive Mardi Gras float, performance stage, Director of the museum, shared the drive-thru bank teller, and ATM. hurricane damage was so severe, the Outside the museum, a new play area entire facility had to be renovated. offers a very hands-on “ninja warrior” "During Ida our air conditioners fell experience, along with emergency The Bayou Country Children’s over on the flat part of our roof and left vehicles to climb on and explore. POV Museum plays a vital role in helping holes in the ceilings of the party rooms. our region’s children, families, and We had a lot of water and mold. We had November 2022 10 povhouma.com
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BY HEIDI GUIDRY | PHOTOS BY MISTY LEIGH MCELROY Making history is more impactful when that history encompasses passion, faith, and a true love for change and growth. Houma Police Department Chief of Police Dana T. Coleman has proven to love his community and continues to aspire to lift those around him to create a stronger and more beautiful community. Dana did not always aspire to be in police enforcement, but God has a funny way of always placing you right where he feels you need to be. His original dream was to become an attorney, and he aspired to become Terrebonne Parish’s first black judge. “But that was Dana’s plan, not God’s,” he chuckled. Dana always admired his brother, Bruce Coleman, who worked for the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office. He picked his brother’s brain constantly about the highs and lows of becoming a police officer, “He told me how at one moment you can be helping the elderly and the next moment you can be rescuing someone from an accident, then at a blink of an eye, a fraction of a second, you can be doing something totally different,” he explained. Dana went on to work at the Sheriff's Office for two years while going to school. After some time, his little league baseball coach, Johnny Lopez, suggested he apply with the Houma Police Department. The interview didn’t exactly go the way Dana had planned. The interviewer asked Dana where he was from: “I’m from Houma,” Dana responded. That’s when the man across from him asked again, except this time he asked about his neighborhood, “I had no idea where this was going and I
kind of felt like I was being attacked,” Dana shared. His baseball coach, who was in the interview with him, said, “Dana, just tell him what neighborhood you’re from.” After responding with “Mechanicville,” Dana said the next comment was “Show me a kid from Mechanicville that has never been in trouble.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t Dana’s time to join HPD, as he was denied after the first interview. Fast forward six months later when he received a callback for another interview, with a new panel. He specifically remembered the man sitting directly across from him was the police chief, Jack Smith, “He said, ‘sir, where do you see yourself in 20 years?’ I said, ‘Well sir, hopefully in 20 years, I can have your job. I want to be the police chief here.” That answer did the trick, as Dana joined the force at the Houma Police Department in January 1995. Chief Dana Coleman earned his official title exactly 20 years later in 2015. Not only did he achieve his goal, but he made history when he became the first African American Chief of Police in Houma. Chief Coleman said he would have never thought that specific answer in that interview would come to fruition. It took a magnitude of hard work, dedication, faith, and passion to get where he is today and he gives God all the Glory. Growing up, Dana’s parents instilled strong faith and perseverance in him. They taught him that no matter what, he was to do what was right, always look to God, and give thanks to Him for everything. It’s these strong values, along with a strong support system consisting of his wife and children, that has gotten him through the
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unthinkable. When asked about how he continues to be righteous and keeps strong through those low times, he simply said, “My faith is stronger.” Dana recalled growing up in a home built on a strong foundation, “As a kid, my parents believed in God and serving the Lord. They built a strong foundation with their kids to put God first in everything and I remember times when my mom would grab the kids before school and go into the living room where we would have prayer. She would always stress that you should pray before you get your day started, pray throughout the day…if you’re faced with adversity, you go to the Lord and ask Him to help with that adversity,” he explained. His mother also taught the children that when you are celebrating a victory, you thank Him for those victories as well, “We are a faith-driven family,” he explained, “I carry those characteristics and attributes with me in my daily life which allows
me to get through those highs and lows of this profession.” The lows of the job always pull Dana into prayer. He reminisced about three specific incidents that shook him to the core in his time as an officer. The first incident was a murder-suicide involving a male who jumped off into the Intracoastal Canal after murdering his live-in girlfriend and their young child. He recalled having to take a moment with his responding officers to allow them to cry it out, pray it out, and resume serving justice. The second was a recent tragedy that shook the Houma community when two-year-old Ezekiel Harry was found deceased in a trash can. Dana’s heart not only goes to the innocent life that was lost but he said his prayers go out to all involved, especially the family. The third horrible tragedy that left him shaken was the “Bayou Strangler” case. Ronald Joseph Dominique was arrested in 2006 after a slew of murders that began November 2022 16 povhouma.com
in 1996 totaling 23 men and boys. Newspaper clippings from this case still hang on the walls in his office. These memories have haunted Chief Coleman's mind, however, he gives an ode to his family and his support system to get him through tough times. He looks to the celebrations and the highs in his career to find harmony in the chaos. Dana always looks forward to passing on the knowledge, skills, and abilities that he has learned throughout his career to those that have aspirations of becoming leaders. “I love passing that torch to others. I enjoy networking in our community, we have a great community! I really enjoy people, I love talking to people, I love helping people, and I love the people that we protect and serve. My goal is to try to do my best and try to do my due diligence to make this community a better place to live, work, breathe, and raise a family.” POV
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“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world,” - Harriet Tubman.
BY YASMEEN SINGLETON PHOTOS BY CHANNING CANDIES Lafourche Parish native Jaedon Burregi channeled his strength in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, and dreamed big, to breathe life back into his community. The South Lafourche High School, and Nicholls State University graduate is carrying the torch passed down by his father, and grandfather at Galliano Fresh Market. Formerly known as Galliano Food Store, the locally owned grocery store has served residents of Lafourche Parish since 1976. Originally opened by Jaedon’s grandfather and uncle, the family grocery is now owned and operated by Jaedon and his father. A family journey that began over 40 years ago is still a family affair. “My mom, dad and I are here helping with the daily operations. We plan to keep it family owned and open for the years to come,” said Jaedon. While being an entrepreneur and grocer wasn’t always on Jaedon’s list of aspirations, the businessman has certainly made a positive impact in South Lafourche. Jaedon recalls his original plans of becoming a scientist when he enrolled at Nicholls. After realizing how much of an impact the family owned store had on the community, Jaedon changed his major to marketing, and found his calling in his family’s roots. Over the years Galliano Fresh Market has weathered its fair share of storms. In 2008 the store suffered severe damage to its roof following Hurricane Gustav. Thirteen years later, the store faced devastation again when Hurricane Ida made landfall on August 29, 2021 leaving behind severe water and roof damage. Jaedon and his team worked diligently to reopen the only grocery store in the Galliano community. As they faced the monumental task of rebuilding, Jaedon wanted to create something special for his community. On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, the store reopened and wowed the community as Galliano Fresh Market. The staff greeted
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customers and emotional South Lafourche residents perused the store taking in the market’s exceptional appearance and selection. “During the storm we lost our entire roof; when you walked in you saw daylight. For eleven months, we’ve been working and waiting,” Jaedon shared. “It’s a unique feeling being able to come back to a community that appreciates a locally owned store. We are the only locally owned store in the area, and it's unique that we can actually say we live here, and we wanted to bring it back,” he shared. Since the store’s reopening, the community has shown tremendous support and gratitude. Jaedon shared that everyone jumped right back into the swing of things and business is going well.
Powered with his passion for being local and improving the quality of life in his community, Jaedon has big plans for the Lafourche Plaza Shopping Center, where Galliano Fresh Market is located, as well as his events center Main Street Events Venue. “Now that we’re back up and running, we want to take the shopping center and bring some attention to this town,” Jaedon said. The entrepreneur shared plans for transforming the shopping center to give it more of a downtown feel, adding a farmer’s market on Saturdays with live music, pop up
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shops, and more. In the future, Jaedon also has plans to add a second Fresh Market location to better serve the community. “We are here to stay and look forward to serving the Galliano, and South Lafourche community for another 46 years,” Jaedon said with a smile. POV
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING! It’s been a while since some families have gathered together at the table for Thanksgiving. After Covid sought to separate us from one another and Ida took our homes and tables, it’s finally time to once again gather to be thankful for what we have been blessed with. For most families, Thanksgiving is centered around a table of food! While everyone might celebrate with a different traditional dish, we thought you might want to try one new dish! Check out these options to bring some new flavors to the table!
SPICED POTATO PASTRY POCKETS INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup onion, chopped • 1 pepper jalapeno pepper or serrano pepper, seeded and minced • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated • 2 tsp minced garlic cloves • 1 teaspoon garam masala • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds • 1/2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric • 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a large skillet warm 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil over medium. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, until translucent and beginning to brown, 5 minutes. Add jalapeno, ginger, and garlic; cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in garam masala, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric, and cayenne (if using) to coat onion mixture. 3. Add mashed potatoes and peas, stirring gently to combine. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in cilantro.
• 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes • 1/2 cup frozen peas • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped • 1 package refrigerated pie crust (2 pie crusts) • 1 tbsp mango chutney, mint chutney, or tamarind chutney November 2022 22 povhouma.com
4. Unroll one pie crust. Cut into quarters. Brush edges of each quarter with water. Spoon about 1/3 cup potato mixture down the center of each quarter. Fold one straight side of pastry over filling to opposite straight side to form a triangle. Press edges to seal. Arrange on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry and potato mixture. Prick tops of each pocket with tines of a fork. 5. Bake until golden brown and crisp, 30 minutes. Cool slightly before serving pockets with desired chutney(s).
BURNT MAPLE BRUSSELS SPROUTS INGREDIENTS • 20 Brussels sprouts (yields approximately 4 cups shaved) • 2 tablespoons canola oil • 1 pinch coarse salt • 1 tablespoon brown sugar • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
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• 3/4 teaspoon adobe or chipotle powder (whichever one you can find!) • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 tablespoon maple syrup, plus more for dipping • Sea salt
TRACTOR
DIRECTIONS 1. Cut the stems off each Brussels sprout. Then, working in small batches, place sprouts in feed tube of a food processor or Kitchen Aid mixer fitted with a thin slicing disk; slice. 2. Mix the sugar and spices in a small bowl (brown sugar through cayenne pepper). 3. Heat canola oil in a large skillet over high heat, swirling pan to coat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sprouts to the pan. Cook over high heat for 5 minutes or until they just begin to burn. Do not stir during this time, allowing them to get really brown and caramelized. 4. Add a generous pinch of coarse salt. Cook for an additional 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep the sprouts from burning too much. If they begin to get overly blackened, turn the heat down a bit. 5. Add half the spice mixture to the skillet and cook for an additional minute. 6. Heat the oven broiler on high. Transfer the sprouts to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the sprouts with half the remaining spice mixture (don't use all of it) and drizzle with 1 tablespoon maple syrup.
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7. Broil for 2 minutes. Take the baking sheet out of the oven, stir the sprouts, and broil for another 2 minutes. Keep an eye on sprouts to ensure they don't burn too much. 8. Remove the sprouts from the oven. Sprinkle with the last bit of the spice mixture and the sea salt. Toss and serve immediately with a side of maple syrup for dipping.
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SMOKY SPICY CORN PUDDING INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 4 to 6 medium ears of corn (you want 3 ½ cups of the kernels), husks and silk removed
• 1 tbsp finely chopped sundried tomatoes (either packed in oil or rehydrated)
• olive oil
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1. The first step of this dish is roasting or grilling the corn. Brush the corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place cobs on a hot grill or a grill pan and cook for 20 minutes, rotating every few minutes to cook all sides. If you don’t have a grill, you can place the seasoned corn on a baking sheet under the broiler for the same amount of time (still rotating). Let cool slightly, cut the kernels from the cobs, and reserve kernels in a separate bowl.
• 3 eggs
2. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• 2 cups heavy cream
3. In a medium skillet, heat oil and butter on medium-high heat. Once foam subsides, add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Once the seeds start to sputter and pop, lower the heat to medium-low and add shallots, peppers and a pinch of salt. Cook for a few minutes until shallots are translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add sundried tomatoes, corn kernels, and flour and stir to coat. Cook for another 30 seconds, stirring. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.
• salt & pepper • 1 tbsp canola or vegetable oil • 2 tbsps butter • 1 ½ tbsps brown mustard seeds • 10 curry leaves • 2 shallots, chopped
• a couple dashes of Tabasco • 1 ¼ tsp salt • 1/2 tsp black pepper
f inely
• 1 ¼ cups grated smoked mozzarella
• 1 red cherry, fresno or jalapeno pepper, minced (seeded and ribbed only if you can’t take the heat!)
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions, dark and light green parts only
4. In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, cream, Tabasco, salt, and pepper. Add this along with the grated smoked mozzarella and the green onions to the corn mixture and combine thoroughly. Transfer to a greased 2-quart baking dish and bake for 50 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean. 5.Let cool slightly before serving.
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
PUMPKIN PIE IN A PUMPKIN! INGREDIENTS • 1 small pumpkin 4-5 inches in height and 12-15 inches in circumference (sugar pumpkin)
DIRECTIONS
• 3/4 cup sugar
1. Prepare your pumpkin by scooping out the seeds and pulp, place it on a baking sheet, do not put the top of the pumpkin (stem) on the sheet just yet.
7. After 15 minutes, cover the top of the pumpkin loosely with foil (don't let it touch the top of the custard or it will stick and "ruin" the appearance) and bake another 15 minutes.
• 3 large eggs plus 4 egg yolks
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• 1/2 TBS vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
3. In a mixing bowl combine the sugar, eggs, and vanilla and whisk until combined.
8. Lower oven temp to 375, place the top of the pumpkin on the tray and continue baking for 15 minutes more. Remove the foil and bake an additional 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the custard comes out mostly clean.
• 2 cups heavy cream • 1 teaspoon of cornstarch • Pinch of salt
4. Add the heavy cream, cornstarch, and salt and whisk until fully combined. 5. Pour mixture into your prepared pumpkin (allowing about ¾ of an inch space between the filling and the top of the pumpkin and begin baking it. 6. Bake at 400 degrees uncovered.
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9. Turn off the oven, allow the pumpkin to cool for an hour, then place it in your refrigerator and allow the custard to set 6 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, scoop out custard into small dishes.
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the observer |
BY JAIME DISHMAN
THE
LIST
I had almost convinced myself that I was done. Done with a lot of things, if I’m honest. I’ve ridden the waves of change this year, and somehow still feel a little displaced, a little like I’m coming up from under a wave, still sputtering a little. Still spitting out a little of the salt water that inevitably fills your mouth. Still feeling a little like I’m trying to figure out the new rhythm of a new path. So I told myself I was done. That maybe I was done with writing. Done with trying to type out something that would mean something. It would be one less thing in a life that is very filled with “things.”
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It’s been almost 10 years since I wrote the first list. And in the wee hours of a night where sleep seemed far away, I knew I needed to start writing again.
AMENITIES INCLUDE:
I started the list 10 years ago. I’m not sure how many things I wrote, but the list grew from a couple to dozens, to hundreds.
•MUSIC & MEMORY THERAPY
The list has laid dormant for years, still there in pencil scratched letters that started on the inside of a book cover, that continued to typed notes in a phone, that even went in one of the many notebooks filled with thoughts and prayers and scriptures.
•KITCHEN THERAPY •LIVE & LOCAL CONCERTS •IN-HOUSE THERAPY DOG •NOVEL EXCURSIONS •GAMES & CRAFTS
Then I started writing something different. Something for me.
Write the list again. The list of gifts. Try to get to 1,000 like the author challenged me to do almost 10 years ago. Can you scratch out a list of life’s gifts, daily given, until you reach 1,000?
But somewhere along the way, I stopped.
I read over the list of gifts, the things I gave thanks for, the things I stopped and noticed and appreciated almost 10 years ago. • Conversations of the heart • 8-year-old hugs • Beachside bike ride • Wind-blown hair • Whispered prayers of gratitude
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The 8-year-old is almost 18. It’s sobering that the things I was most thankful for then have changed, developed. Some of the things I was thankful for then, no longer exist. New things have replaced some of them. And some places are simply a void where something I loved once lay near to my heart. Maybe the heart never replaces things you deeply loved; perhaps the heart gives new place to new loves, while holding a spot for the older spaces. A way to remember what once was, while embracing what is and what will be. I’ve created gullies of ungratefulness where gratitude once resided. I’ve focused on things gone, things missing, things not quite right. But my list started again. And it’s filled with good things. Things right here in front of me I somehow wasn’t seeing. Giving thanks doesn’t always mean that everything is good. I knew that. Learned that. Somehow forgot it.
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“Take the pain that is given, give thanks for it, and transform it into a joy that fulfills all emptiness,” author Ann Voskamp writes.
Perfect Temperature
This giving of thanks in spots that get filled with ungratefulness transforms a life. Ungratefulness doesn’t leave on its own, I’ve learned. The ungratefulness has had to be hammered out with hard-fought words of thankfulness. That little “un” can trip you up, you know? The difference between grateful and ungrateful is the “un.” It’s where the difference lies. I’ve been done and undone by two little letters. So this Thanksgiving as we carve turkeys and make memories, may I remember the words of thanks before anything else. Words of praise for less than perfect things. Beauty in the broken places. Every crack creates space for the light to shine through. It’s what I believe, and what I long to live.
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It’s easy to forget and be mindlessly ungrateful. No effort is required for my selfishness and self-seeking attitude to rear its head. It comes uninvited, unannounced, and so often unaware.
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• Sunset over a stadium • Quiet hours in the early morning The simplicity of things that will go unnoticed, unappreciated. Things that will be gone one day, so be thankful for them now. I’m not done. I was just empty. The hustle had left me feeling a little hopeless. But thankfulness has filled what once felt hollow. Nothing has changed. Just me. I’ve stopped and noticed and allowed gratitude to fill gullies. Undone places renewed by a hand stopping to write down words of joy for things that were going unseen. May this Thanksgiving season be one that transforms us all. POV
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WE SUPPORT A HEALTHIER FUTURE |
BY THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
KNOW THE RISKS, SYMPTOMS AND HOW TO LIVE WITH DIABETES Diabetes affects more than 34 million Americans—about one out of every 10 people. It often leads to other health complications such as heart attacks, strokes, amputations and kidney disease. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness.
they may prevent or delay onset of type 2 diabetes.
• Blurred vision
Risk Factors
Living with Diabetes
A combination of genetic factors and lifestyle increase risks for type 2 diabetes. While nothing In Louisiana, some 14% of the adult population can be done to change family history, age or has been diagnosed with diabetes and more ethnicity, people can manage many risks by than 34% are living with prediabetes. It costs adjusting their lifestyle choices. Risk factors include: Louisianians nearly $6 billion annually. • Being overweight or obese While the numbers seem overwhelming, knowing the risk factors and watching for • Age 45 or older symptoms helps to prevent the disease. • Family history of diabetes • High blood pressure Types of Diabetes Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's • Low level of HDL (good) cholesterol or high level of triglycerides immune system turns against itself and destroys pancreatic cells that produce insulin. • Physical inactivity It occurs at any age and among all ethnicities • History of gestational diabetes or giving birth but is commonly diagnosed in children and to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more young adults. • History of heart disease or stroke Typically diagnosed in older adults, type 2 • Depression diabetes is the most common type. Due to rising obesity rates, more children and young • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) adults are also being diagnosed with type 2. It is Anyone worried about risks can take a Diabetes caused when the pancreas doesn't make enough Risk Test on the National Institute of Health insulin, the body resists insulin produced by the (NIH) website. pancreas or a combination of the two. Signs and Symptoms Some women develop gestational diabetes during the last three months of pregnancy when Certain signs and symptoms may also indicate hormones cause insulin resistance. Their blood that the person has type 2 diabetes or may be glucose level may rise too high and can result prediabetic. Watch for: in birth complications. The condition typically • Increased thirst goes away after pregnancy. • Increased hunger Prediabetes affects someone with elevated • Fatigue blood glucose levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. With weight loss, • Increased urination, especially at night increased physical activity and medications, • Weight loss
• Sores that don’t heal Patients with type 1 diabetes must monitor their blood sugar and regulate insulin daily with injections, pumps or medication. Advanced continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices make the finger prick obsolete for type 1 and type 2 patients. These work through sensors placed on the skin and are read with phone apps or other devices. Diet moderation and management are key to living healthily with diabetes. Excess or low sugar can change drastically and often with little notice. Losing as little as 10 to 15 pounds often helps someone better manage type 2 diabetes. Other medical conditions and treatments, such as chemotherapy, affect blood sugar levels. Available Resources Thibodaux Regional's Diabetes SelfManagement Program provides diabetes services, instruction and support to patients, as well as for their families and caregivers. The program focuses on education and strategies to help patients manage their conditions. Services include: • Diet management • Exercise, including a customized WellFit Diabetes Care plan • Medication counseling • Blood glucose monitoring • Certified insulin pump instruction Fo r more information, visit https://www.thibodaux.com/centers-services/ diabetes-self-management/ or call 985 493-4765.
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PLAYING DARTS
WITH SPACE A space rock falling to earth marked the end of the dinosaurs.1 A space rock also marked the end of Bruce Willis in the movie “Armageddon.” And if NASA has its way, those things will never happen again. In that 1998 movie, Willis landed a space shuttle on a near-Earth asteroid, drilled to its center, and then heroically detonated a nuclear device down the hole, effectively deflecting the asteroid by splitting it in two and thereby saving civilization. NASA didn’t quite go that far this past September. Instead, they sent a tiny, unmanned spacecraft over to a small asteroid, crashed into it,2 and hopefully bumped it into a new orbit. Did it work? Not yet known. But the craft must have hit its target: After the crash, nearby satellite cameras captured images of a dust cloud and a spider-like plume of debris.3
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The mission was named DART, which is not only an acronym4 for Double Asteroid Redirection Test but also a representation of the game of darts, with the asteroid as the target and the spacecraft as the dart. Incidentally, this dart flew at 15,000 mph and struck a target 6.6 million miles away.5 The target was a little asteroid named Dimorphos, a name that means “two shapes,” so named because of its expected new shape following the crash. Dimorphos is actually a “moon” orbiting around a bigger asteroid named Didymos,6 which means “twin.” So, you can think of a dartboard with Didymos as the bullseye and the orbit of Dimorphos as one of the red rings around the bullseye, and then the whole dartboard floating around the room in an oblong circle,7 representing the asteroid pair revolving around the sun. That’s the target that NASA hit. The DART spacecraft was launched one year ago this month, but the crash happened just this past September 26th at 5:14 PM Central Time. That day, I got home from work in a drizzle at about 5:13 just in time to see the event on the NASA Channel. However, in that dry month, on that important day, at that important moment, a big, inconsiderate rain cloud floated by and eclipsed the transmission satellite.8 Luckily, nothing eclipsed Dimorphos. When the television signal resumed, I saw replays of people in blue NASA shirts clapping and jumping for joy,9 as well as increasingly up-close images of Dimorphos seconds before impact. But forget darts! As I watched replays of Dimorphos being approached by its dart, I immediately thought of a different game. The asteroid is shaped like an egg, and that egg had just been “pocked”–as in “egg pocking,” that old Cajun Easter game. In case you’ve never pocked before, pocking10 is a competition between two people who tap the large end of each other’s hard-boiled egg in an effort to crack the shell. The holder of the last uncracked egg wins. At large family gatherings, pocking can become a tournament.11 So, a pocked Dimorphos lived up to its name by now having a new, second shape, and DART became pocking champion of the asteroid belt! If NASA were pocking potential space rocks 66 million years ago like this, we’d still have dinosaurs—for free, too, without having to pay admission to Jurassic Park. Thank goodness for NASA these days, though. Now there’s something new to give thanks for at Thanksgiving.
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NOTES: That rock was named Chicxulub, and as a meteorite it crashed into earth 66 million years ago near the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, not too far away from future PoV country, which had not yet formed by river sediments flowing down Bayous Lafourche and Terrebonne. That process would begin 65.997 million years later. 1
Instead of creating a new technology and a new mission, NASA could have simply called Chris Pine. Pine plays the role of Captain Kirk in the recent Star Trek movie series, and he’s crashed the USS Enterprise into one thing or another in each of his three movies. 2
I capture the same things when I sweep the floor of my home office. That’s what it means to be one with the universe. 3
NASA loves acronyms because they are one. 4
You must earn triple points for that throw, but it’s hard to see dartboard point values in space.
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5
Not directly named after St. Thomas, who, incidentally, was also called “the twin.” 6
If you can actually see this in your mind’s eye, contact either Mensa International or, as soon as possible, your primary care physician. 7
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A similar thing happened when WWLTV went out on November 8th, 1970, just before Tom Dempsey made his historic 63yard field goal for the Saints, but that was before satellite TV. 8
It was apparently too early for champagne. That would come later but would not be broadcast on the NASA Channel. 9
Pocking is commonly played by prairie Cajun families on Easter. “Pocking” comes from “paquing,” which comes from “Pâques,” which is French for “Easter.” Also, the sound of tapping eggs resembles a little “pock.” Also, chickens on Old MacDonald’s farm make “pock-pock” sounds. The pocking tradition actually comes from ancient Greece, where it was called “tsugrisma.” Pocking sounds better, I know. 10
Cajuns found a new way to play with all those hard-boiled Easter eggs. Now, what can we do with crawfish shells? POV 11
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WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AROUND TOWN
Downtown Sounds Concert
November 3, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Downtown Thibodaux What’s better than taking up the streets of Downtown Thibodaux for some live outdoor music! Stop by this month to see Flow Tribe and Snapper & the Fishsticks perform. Admission is $20 with proceeds for the event going to the Bryant O’Neil Foundation.
Southdown Plantation’s Marketplace Artisan Craft Show
November 5, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Southdown Plantation, Houma With more than 300 local and national vendors, the Artisan Craft Show has something for everyone. The show will feature unique and hand-made items including, jewelry, clothing, wood crafts, original art, garden items, seasonal items, and more. In addition, delicious foods and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission is $5 per person, with proceeds benefiting the non-profit Terrebonne Historical & Cultural Society and Southdown Plantation & Museum.
Big Boy's Main Street Cook-Off
November 11, 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. Downtown Thibodaux Experience a culinary showcase of Cajun cuisine at Big Boy's Main Street CookOff! Sample Louisiana-inspired dishes from over 30 teams while enjoying live music by Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous. In addition, Goose burgers, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages will be sold by area bars and restaurants. Admission is $10 per person, with all proceeds benefiting Thibodaux Main Street.
Thibodeauxville Fall Festival
November 12, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Downtown Thibodaux
Explore beautiful, historic, downtown Thibodaux at Thibodeauxville! The award winning festival will feature three stages of live music, arts and crafts booths, a Cajun food court, a car show, and the infamous rubber duck race in Bayou Lafourche. Admission to the festival is free.
Bayou Arts Fest
November 19, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Historic Downtown Houma The inaugural Bayou Arts Fest will kick off at 10 a.m. featuring all forms of art including music performances, singer songwriter performances, arts and crafts booths, artwork, theatrical performances, a kids area, and a Cultural Food Cook-Off. Entries from the cook-off can be enjoyed from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. while supplies last. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite dish! The day of fun will close with a concert in the courthouse square featuring Joe and Billy Stark, along with other local talented musicians.
Rock Another Day
November 26 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM Southdown Plantation, Houma The Rock Another Day event is an outdoor concert to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention and education through the Bryant O’Neil Foundation. The event will include headliners such as Louisiana natives Marc Broussard, Bag of Donuts, and Le Bon Temps. The Bryant O’Neil Foundation is comprised of family and friends to Bryant DeRoche. Our sole mission is to allow light, love, and hope to illuminate the darkness of suicide. For tickets, visit thebryantoneilfoundation.org. POV
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FUN FACTS Looking for some Thanksgiving trivia to kick off a friendly game at the table? We’ve got you covered!
Turkey was not included in the first Thanksgiving celebration.
The holiday was first celebrated in 1621.
Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.
Watching football on Thanksgiving became a nationwide tradition in 1876. The historic game was played between Yale and Princeton University.
The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest times for travelers, with more than 50 million Americans expected to travel each year.
The Butterball Turkey Hotline answers more than 100,000 turkey-cooking questions every November and December.
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LOOK TWICE |
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Find the six differences in this photo from our feature on page 10. Email your answers to us at looktwice@povhouma.com or drop it in the mail: Rushing Media, P.O. Box 5013, Houma, LA, 70361. A winner will be picked by random drawing November 15. The winner will receive a $50 Visa® gift card courtesy of Synergy Bank. Participants must be 18 years or older.
Congratulations to Gaylene Miller for winning last month’s contest.
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ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CONTEST 1. Changed the color of the grapes 2. Added another deer 3. Changed the color of food in bowl 4. Removed feather in hair 5. Added another bird's nest 6. Changed color of horn in headdress
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