If you're from Louisiana, odds are, you have a Cajun family member. I happened to grow up with two sets of grandparents who have Acadian/French roots. Life has been much funnier, more fattening, and more fulfilling than you could ever imagine. Coonasses, this one's for you!
1. You call them Maw Maw or Paw Paw or some sort of play on that.
I called mine Maw and Paw. It's basically the same thing.
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2. You're always going to someone's house to eat, and if the dish requires a roux, you eatin' good that night.
And it's usually with a bunch of your other relatives.
3. If you have boiled seafood, you are staying after everyone leaves to help peel the ones people didn't eat.
Which just means you're getting gumbo or crawfish stew. Score!
4. Everybody drinks.
Everybody. It's not alcoholism, it's living in the South.
5. You say Cajun French words around people who do not know what the heck you are talking about.
When Grandma says zeedob or gah-lee, it rubs off on you.
6. "You like dem tomatoes? I grew 'em myself in my yard."
Or okra. Or rosemary. Or jalapeños. Or eggplant. They're growing something edible in that yard.
7. If someone wants you to do something, they call you over by saying, "Come see, chere."
It's the same as come here, sweetheart.
8. Somebody has a boat, and somebody has a camp.
And they always invite you to go fishing.
9. You've got fresh fish to eat, and homemade deer jerky in the winter.
Fresh fried trout or just-caught blackened redfish ... you really can't beat it. And for those of you who love your deer meat, I'm sure you can agree that its much better when you shoot it yourself.
10. They may be a little critical, they may be a little crazy, but they love you more than life itself.
They'll take care of you when you're sick, they'll cook your favorite meal when you're down, they'll sneak you beer when Mom isn't looking, and they'll drop everything to give you a kiss goodbye.
Give your grandparents a call today and tell them you love them. Hopefully, they can figure out the iPhone your uncle finally bought them.
