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     If you do not travel with the 1950 Tiger Travelers this is what you missed: You really missed a good time and a lot of laughs. There was 28 in our group and 42 all together. As you can see we out number the strangers (starting out strangers). The others (just signed for the trip through the Tourist Tour), it was not long before they wanted to join our group, they wanted to join the 1950 LRHS Tiger Travelers. Believe me a lot of laughs. In fact we had two `1951" Grads that are now, Honorary 1950 Grads. We also inducted two that did not graduate with us, nor go to LRHS but wanted to be Tigers. We passed the magic wand over them--she..sham.. bing bang and 1950 Grad was performed. Wally Davenport,1951 and Norma, his wife came from Houston, Texas. Joyce, Handwork, 1951 and husband. Jim Purvis, LR Tech, from Vilonia, Ar. are now 1950 Graduates. Betty Isgrig and Julie Ollie are now 1950 by way of the Magic Wand.

     We boarded the bus at the Comfort Inn, Airport, Saturday, November 7, 2004, and started for the first stop which was Fordyce, Ar. We picked up two passengers there (Tourist Tour). We ate at the famous Bakery Cafe. Believe me it is worth the trip to go there for the raison, nut, sugar/cinnamon sweet loaves of bread. Edna Lou claims that she had no raison in her bread when she got to Lafayette. I think everyone on the bus bought loaves to carry home. We had to buy the bread going (Saturday) to the festival because they are closed on Monday (the day we come back through Fordyce). It was all eaten while in Lafayette as a snack. We all are driving to Fordyce to get more bread. Of course that is an excuse to travel again.

     We arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana to rest at the Drury Inn Hotel. This Hotel was first Class. Free Popcorn, free wine, refrig and microwave (with more popcorn), cold drinks in the refrig (all free). Also, 60 minutes of free long distance calls, Internet free. Most of us did not bring our address book with the telephone numbers and did not get our 60 minute free. It was beautiful decorated and clean--clean. Fredia Palmer Graham, and Edna Lou Brodnax Green, had a suite. Two rooms, two big TV's, kitchen, & ONLY ONE BATH. Now the story on the suites, I can not tell. Check out their story, they said."""""""""blah da Blah da da

     After our wine we went to "Prejean Restaurant", in Lafayette, Louisiana. The food was good but the Rice dressing was terrible. They had a new chef and somewhere someone told him that Cajun cooking has to have to much red pepper. Maybe they did not like Little Rock, Arkansas. After all I think we beat them in basketball. Whatever, the Dirty Rice was terrible--to hot--maybe they were covering up what it taste like. The Alligator which some ate was good and my red snapper was great. I must say there was some heart burns and rolling tummies all night. The Cajun Band cranked up, "Jollie Blonde", requested by Oley Rooker, the little ones, the old and us did a little Cajun dance. Frenchie Tavelin (83 years young) and I dance, "joie de vivre". In fact, I will try and get the picture put on the web..

     Sunday Morning, November 8, 2004, Drury Inn furnished a first Class Breakfast. Belgium Waffles, Sausage, Eggs, French Toast, Every kind of cereal and sweet rolls/donuts, coffee tea, hot coca and the best jelly and peanut butter. We were stuffed and ready for the festival. Abbeville, Louisiana, 23 miles from Lafayette as the crows fly, in Vermillion Parish. This is a sleepy town of about 3,000 people. Now, this is counting the rural farms and all the chickens, too! Mostly Farm land. At the present time the second crop of Sugar Cane. Beautiful Churches, one in the town Square of Magdalene is beautiful. Then the Evangelic Oaks with the moss makes it much more picturesque in southern Louisiana. The next square is filled with crafts under the Spanish Oaks. The crafts, food, wine, jellies, T-shirt, pictures (hand painted), hand carved items, and crafts for the kids. This little old town does not have a red light. The food court. This included shrimp to chicken but best of all great Bodin Balls. The Shrimp and Bodin Balls I really stuffed myself. The Court House is next, another square. The Main Street connecting the Court House (one block) to the Magdalene Park Square where the crafts were. Now the middle of Main Street has a large pile of Sand with a Log fire in the middle. This is the Fire for the Omeletes. The skillet is extremely large 12 ft. It is going to cook 5,020 eggs, 50 lbs onions, 75 green bell peppers, 4 gallons onion tops, 2 gallons parsley, 1 1/2 gallons cooking oil, 6 1/2 gallons milk, 52 lbs butter, 3 boxes salt, 2 boxes black pepper, crawfish tails and Tabasco Pepper Sauce to taste. The reason for 5,020 is the festival is 20 years old. Each year they add a egg. The egg is carried ( the 20th) on a red velvet pillow and cracked with the rest of the eggs.. The eggs are stirred with what looks like a motorboat propeller. The Coufrerier d'Abbeville, dressed in their white starched tops, large chief hats, black pants and a sash draped around them to indelicate their statue of place in the great Society of Chefs, got out their long handle boat paddles and the festival began. The skillet was put over the fire with a forklift and the dancing with a Cajun band that never stopped playing. The Cajun culinary delights was stirred with a fan fare on each ingredient added to the skillet. The French heritage and sisterhood of cities from Bessieres, France-Frejus, France-Dumbea, New Caladonia Granby, Quebec were there to help with the preparations. The live music and dancing, Parade to the skillet, the beautiful friendly people with their French accent we thought we were in another country. Can you see this-- imagine being France,-- it was a delight with parade and pompous for the eggs. About a hour later--The eggs omelete was placed in bowls with French bread and fed to the crowd. Yes, the whole crowd of 3,000. Did not take the Cajuns long to serve the crowd but about 10 minutes and all were fed. When you have done the serving for 20 years I guess you have it down to the degree. It was de--lishes. The best I had every ate and I have cooked many a meal over an open camp fire..

     We returned to the Drury Hotel for potato chips, frijoles, salsa, chili, dips, hot dogs, lots of wine, coffee and tea. We pulled tables together and ate and then we talked. Told great stories on ourselves and other friends, laughed, then laughed. In fact, we laughed so much and a little loud, well with that many people laughing, what do you expect, we got shushed. Yes the desk clerk shushed us, (it was 6:30 PM) told us could we hold it down with our laughter. It seems, their must have been someone that had complained. Must have been some young people that wanted to join our crowd and were jealous. Well, we toned it down but Betty Pilcher Blacklaw almost had a stroke trying to hold back the laughter. Have you ever got to laughing and had to smother the sound. Betty turned so red in the face, we thought we were going, to 911 it any minute.

     We laughed all the way home the next day with our tummies full again with the large breakfast. Stopped at Ryan's at Ruston and they were out of meat--now tell me what do you thing happen with 42 Senior Citizen that wanted Sirloin Tips and NO red Meat.--easy we ate popcorn shrimp--Had a great time. The 2005 short trip is!!! Next time. I will let you know the details. Do not for get the April 22-23, 2003 Reunion. Details follow.

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