Louisiana-Bound (2008)

Part 24 of 40: The Picnic

Upon arriving at the picnic, even though we thought we might have been late, we soon realized that there was no hurry. We waited outside in a line, creeping closer to the entrance door every minute. It was a big open hall with enough room to play basketball. I think there might have been basketball hoops overhead.
Admittance was reasonable, three dollars a person is what I remember. And crawfish meals would satisfy ninety percent of the pallets. We were in the ten percent who didn't eat shellfish. Crawfish to me, look like tiny lobsters.

After they signed us in we waited for the Board meeting to finish. Conversations of all types were going on in the hall. I heard that about two hundred people attended the Lafayette Picnic for the Blind. I thought the crowd was larger. My estimate would have been higher.

Early after entering the hall, Melanie met Toni Lyn for the first time. I met her too, briefly, but did not know that it was the Toni I knew from our Goldinpoetry and Spousal Support groups. It would be a few hours later before we were officially introduced. Sometimes it is hard to interrupt a deafblind conversation. You don't think so! Really! Try it!

We were not about to eat any of the 600 pounds of crawfish for lunch. But I got a good look at them. I noticed these platters of crawfish on serving tables at lunch time. I figured there was enough in one deep metal platter for a family. But it appears, each adult received their own platter (about 16 to inches in diameter and an inch and a half deep) of crawfish.

Fortunately, we hooked up at lunch time with Toni and Keith and walked to the Taco Bell. It would be our treat. That was fair, as Keith had already paid for two meals which he could not eat. And bless his heart, he did not request a refund.

Our meal at the Taco Bell was rather nice, It resulted in about an hour of conversation. I spoke one on one with Keith while Melanie spoke (tactile signed) one on one with Toni Lyn. Our conversation didn't bother the ladies and their quite tactile signing wasn't too loud for Keith and I, lol.

As we left the Taco Bell, something clued me in to the fact that the Toni we were with was Toni Lyn from our on-line groups. Suddenly I knew her well. Also, the walk of two blocks each way was very pleasant. The special talks and presentations had already started, so our group of four split up into twos to find our best location for the enjoyment of the proceedings.

Written by
Harvey A. Bond