My sister and I say we are from I-10.
My dad worked for a natural gas company and as such, we moved around a bit. Not a lot, but a bit.
I was born in Port Sulphur, Louisiana, I was a kid in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I spent my teen and early 20s years in Lafayette, Louisiana.
I still consider Lafayette my hometown.
It is the kind of town where, once you become someone's friend, you are part of their family...for the rest of your life. I have friends I haven't seen in person in 20 years that I know would help me with just about anything if I but asked.
From ages 11 through 23, I lived in a town that marched (and two-stepped) to its own accordion player. A community that had a festival for EVERYTHING. A community bound by blood and faith.
I had my first kiss in Lafayette. My first broken heart. My first drink. My first fight. And, of course, a lot of other firsts that will just go implied.
I'm sitting here this morning with a heavy heart as I watch the news coverage of last night's theatre shooting in Lafayette. That a stranger could bring this kind of tragedy to such a wonderful community is beyond my comprehension.
As of this writing, I have not learned of harm coming to anyone I know. For that I'm thankful. That does not lessen the tragedy of the death of the two young women who lost their lives last night.
Though I've been gone from Lafayette for a long time, I still take pride in learning how the law enforcement community responded to last night's events. I have friends in that community. I know they can be counted on when they are needed.
This morning I watched Joey Durel, the Lafayette City-Parish President, address the shooting. Mr. Durel was my first boss. He gave 16-year-old me a chance to work my way up the ladder. I know the community is in good hands.
More personally, I watched last night as my Facebook feed exploded with updates from local friends and requests from information from friends who no longer live in Acadiana. It's proof that, to paraphrase Stand By Me, I never had friends later on like the ones I had when I was seventeen.
Just before I moved to Texas, I got a tattoo. It was my parting gift to myself. I was to serve as my reminder of the life I'd led in Louisiana. The tattoo is on my right shoulder so it is not always visible. Thus, it serves as the perfect symbol of my love of the place I come from. You may not always see it, but its always there.
I seriously considered scuttling the cheesecake this week, but I decided to go forward. Its what we do.
Please say hello to Amy Schumer.
I'd already chosen Ms. Schumer for this week's honors before last night's events. The unfortunate coincidence that the shooting took place in her movie Trainwreck is not lost on me.
Ms. Schumer was quick to respond to the tragedy last night, extending her thoughts and prayers to the people of Louisiana in a touching Tweet.
Ms. Schumer is a world class comedian and I hope the events of last night don't stain her career.
Before we get to the links, I want to post one more thing. The song below popped into my head this morning. I don't know, or care, where you stand on Bruce Springsteen's politics. I'm not posting this to take any sort of position. I'm posting it because, in Acadiana, we take care of our own.
Let's hit the links.
CHRIS
Giant dead parrot sculpture #London #MontyPython
BRUCE
Star Wars meets Mad Max
Forgotten sci-fi films of the 90s
The terrible first names of famous bands
Beginner's guide to the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe
The best songs by 203 bands..as chosen by someone
And finally, the cast of Wet Hot American Summer...than and now
