It was an earlier start for us; these words were moving through my mind as I watched the scenery pass and “Welcome to Mississippi” was on the sign I read moments earlier. Our destination was still a good distance away. We would cross Mississippi, then Louisiana and find our place in Texas by the early afternoon.
Through a series of texts with Eric, our friend Steve Belcher (who lives in Louisiana), learned we were approaching his city and he met us for lunch in Louisiana at a wonderful cafe filled with brightly colored pictures; all included a large dog. The cafe was named The Blue Dog Cafe and it had great, spicy, seafood dishes as you might expect in Louisiana. Steve bought our lunch, which was a sweet surprise. He grew up with a musician that we loved who is no longer living, Mr. Hank Becker. How could you not love someone who loved Hank Becker?
Getting off the interstate to meet our friend, caused us to pass homes and neighborhoods in Louisiana and it was an eye opener. I was fully aware of their flooding months ago and so many lost so much. Our area had many benefit shows and other events that raised funds and needed necessities for those in that area. Yet as time passes we tend to push that behind us and move on with life. I could see piles of household debris (old mattresses, broken furniture, and unrecognizable destruction). Their loss and heartbreak was piled high at the curbs and I was shocked into the reality that many people in Louisiana are still hurting, still living the nightmare and braving it through on their own. The people of this area are strong of character, not afraid of hard work and genuinely nice folks! Their plight was heavy on my mind.
It was early afternoon and we were in the great state of Texas. This show would take place at a well known venue in Kemah, Texas; just outside of Houston. It is called T-Bone Tom’s and the event is sponsored by Pirates and Poets society.
This area of the world had not seen or heard of Eric Erdman until a few weeks prior to the show when a popular local radio station did an hour-long interview with Eric. They recorded and aired this interview and they followed up by playing Eric’s original music on the station on a regular rotation for weeks. It worked!
The place was packed and people we had never seen were calling out requests for his music. Many in the crowd sang along with his songs and they were eager to hear more. Now that is how a show in a new town should work!
Some of Eric’s cousins who recently moved to Galveston drove over for the show and a couple from Mobile that moved to Houston about 4 years ago; came and brought a group of their friends. So, we felt like we had a part of home with us even though we were three states away!
This small town is right on the water and yachts lined the basins in huge numbers. The homes were huge, modern and nice in every direction. There were some local restaurants and bars that had unusual names, i.e. “Tookie’s”; whose sign outside boasted, “We love big buns and we cannot lie!” It brought a big smile to our faces. The people here are true original music lovers and they are an attentive, listening crowd that is also very enthusiastic! They laugh at the appropriate points and clap during the song if it is a part they love. To me it is like musician heaven!
The next morning we were rolling west, back to sweet home Alabama. The trip was wonderful! We made new friends. Eric has new fans. The journey was great and we saw lots of things along the way. Before we left Louisiana on the way back, we pulled off the interstate as our appetites and intrigue fell prey to the billboard signs we read for miles, “TRY OUR HOMEMADE CRACKLIN’ AND BOUDIN BALLS!” We did just that and we were not disappointed. Prior to that experience I had had cracklin’ only twice in some cornbread my grandmother made. I was not a fan. But this was in a sack like chips or popcorn (Yes a brown greasy looking sack, but still a sack and not in cornbread). This cracklin' was awesome! I am glad we only got a small bag because we would have eaten a HUGE bag if we had gotten it and that is too much grease for anyone to consume.
Though our trip was wonderful in so many ways; so was the view of my own driveway and the sight of my own bed.
This was another adventure in this life of mine and I am mighty proud to have been able to go.
Very Nice Juanita!
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