September 3rd, 2008 | by Delilah Devlin |
Before Hurricane Gustav made landfall a carload of relatives from Cajun country arrived at the Devlin home. Last name, Benoit. Not Be-know-it, but Ben-wah, like the balls, ya know? My father’s family is huge—19 children (from two wives, bless them both), so it isn’t any wonder that I’d never met this batch. They’re a loud, boisterous family with dark hair and skin and lovely Cajun accents.
Still, they arrived night before last and I had a book to wrap up. The draft of Texas Men was complete, but I wasn’t satisfied with the end. And with company tromping through the house and 3 rambunctious boys screaming through the rooms as they fought over game machines and who was going to sleep where, I was praying for someone to just shoot me.
I finished the book this morning and shipped it to my editor. An hour later the power went out and stayed out. Eight people filling up a space where three could comfortably ignore each other and remain sane became a bit crowded. Add the no AC factor, THREE musky boys (ages 8-11), and I didn’t care that it was raining cats and dogs because Gustav had followed them here, they had to go outside.
I donned my swimsuit and led them to the pool in the lashing rain, promising it was going to be great fun and that the pool water would be so much warmer than the temperature outside. I ignored their chattering teeth and pushed them all in.
And you know what? It was fun. We dove for colored rings at the bottom of the pool. Waved at cars driving by with their windshielf wipers flashing as they slowed down to see what kind of nutjobs were swimming in this weather. We cannonballed into the water to build choppy waves and pretended that we had fallen overboard at sea.
Now, I’m sure when they all head home to start the cleanup (they lost siding, fences, trees, but TG that was all!), they will have tales to tell about their crazy aunt who writes porn and swims in the middle of a monsoon, but I have an open invitation to spend time in bayou country. I wonder what kind of craziness they will show me.
Delilah, looks like you made the best out of a bad situation and had fun with it
omg, an invite to visit the bayou country sounds great… I’m imagining hot men with an accent that’ll have you drooling 
lol
by Ali · September 3rd, 2008 at 9:43 amAli!
by Delilah Devlin · September 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 amI can’t wait to go. From what I hear from them, it’s a closed kind of community. Everyone knows everyone, they never travel far from home (so coming to Arkansas is huge).
You know, I’ll bet that storm will make their top 10 list of favorite memories. It would seem that you have made yourself legendary and will be the most favorite aunt of all time. It would also be a great piece to put in a story.
by Sarah Ulfers · September 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pmWow. If I’d known they had cajun accents I’d have been asking to come visit you. LOL
Sounds like the pool was a good time, and I’m so glad it worked out well in the end for everyone.
by Sasha · September 3rd, 2008 at 1:31 pmSarah!
It might be next week before they can make it back to their parish. What word they’ve been able to get is that law enforcement has the area blocked off due to storm damage. The luster of an afternoon swimming with the crazy aunt will have been worn off by then!
Sasha!
by Delilah Devlin · September 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pmI was saving my sanity too! LOL
Holler if you need a place to hide out!
But I bet these kids have the best stories to tell about their crazy aunt when they get home
by ArkansasCyndi · September 3rd, 2008 at 6:17 pmWho wants to take bets that DD’s next book is set in Cajun Country…during a hot and sultry storm?
Just wonderin’!
by Kate Douglas · September 3rd, 2008 at 8:10 pmWow! I’m amazed you didn’t run all the way to Canada to find some peace! After all, I crossed the ocean, and my family isn’t quite so big. I don’t think.
Hmm… They’ve added on in the last 17 years or so…
Nope. Not going back there. There’s enough craziness this side of the ocean.
Masha.
by Masha Holl · September 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pmWoW, I bet you’re glad to see them go. LOL I’m with Kate I think you’ll be writing something soon that’ll have some Cajun Hunk in it.
by icia01 · September 4th, 2008 at 9:31 amWow, glad you and your family had fun when it could have been a bummer! Glad you’re all safe
by Fedora · September 4th, 2008 at 1:00 pm