Joe's Bayou Memories

It isn't often that a family moves from a home on a beautiful Louisiana bayou and then the grandparents move in. But that is what happened in our family. 

After my brother's job moved his family to another part of the state, my retired parents decided to buy his home and go live on the banks of Joe's Bayou in Waverly, Louisiana.  My brother's family loved that old wooden house and its lovely old live oaks and pines. As my father had begun his life "just right down the road," I know that he felt a bit like he was going back home when he and my mom gave up their family home, church, and friends and made this move. Dad had always wanted to leave the city and get back to the "country." Mom may not always have had so much of that desire, but she did not drag her heels about moving.

In no time they found good neighbors, a good church, and a peaceful life on Joe's Bayou. All of our family who visited Memaw and Papaw in Waverly felt "at home." When we visited, most of us woke up to the smell of frying bacon, pancakes, or on special occasions homemade cinnamon rolls that would make Cinnabon cry.  And watching television was always a joy in the grand living room. But Papaw did not allow eating in the "disney room." So you get an idea of the kinds of tv shows we would watch. And lights and tv were "out" when he was ready for bed at night. We all got a good night's rest!

The home on Joe's Bayou was loved by all who visited including older relatives. One Thanksgiving Papaw's older sister joined the family for that special family day. Her health was not great, and later that week she passed away in my parents' home. She had loved her visit along the banks of Joe's Bayou and had told my mother that she would like to stay there forever. After my father's passing, I found my aunt's ashes and respected her request by spreading her ashes along the banks of Joe's Bayou. So to me it is not only the beloved last home of my parents together, but our aunt's last resting place.

My photography bug niece took a lovely photo of Joe's Bayou on October 5, 2013 in remembrance of her grandfather (and my father) who passed away 15 years ago. He loved Joe's Bayou. We loved him and the bayou that passed by his and my dear mother's home.