Chapter Ten: Oh, Louisiana

Artist: SHE’REE Art - Pamela SHE’REE Jackson

Artwork: On Gilded Wings

Medium: Acrylic with Texture

Oh, Louisiana is one of those songs that pulls on my heartstrings.

Why?

Sometimes when I’m sitting on the bank or in my old aluminum boat fishing, or maybe taking photographs, something about the air in that moment changes.

The rhythm of my heartbeat gets quieter. I relax and inhale the beauty of everything around me.

The reflection of the sun makes shiny ripples across the water. Other times, the water is so still it looks like a sheet of ice. The wind blows and the moss gently sways in the trees.

The atmosphere of it all brings me serenity.

Those are the moments that make me stop and really look at Louisiana.

Then there’s the food.

In my opinion, the seasoning of the South is like no other. It delights the senses of taste and smell. And it isn’t only one particular Louisiana dish. It’s chicken and dressing, chicken and dumplings, fried fish, vegetables seasoned just right, something simmering on the stove, and recipes that may have been handed down without anyone ever bothering to write down the measurements.

The savory combination of great food and good company is second to none.

And then there are the people.

There is a friendliness in the South that can come through with a wave, a toothy smile, a warm word or a simple, “Hello, how are you?”

“Let me help you, darlin’.”

To someone who isn’t accustomed to it, some of our sayings and names of endearment may take a little getting used to. But it’s our way of life. In many ways, it’s how we extend the olive branch.

Come on in.

Sit down.

Have something to eat.

Tell me how your family is doing.

It’s the warmth of the humidity.

It’s the spice of the food.

It’s the wildlife, the waterways and the land around us.

It’s the character of Louisianians and the many traditions and cultures found across our state that make Louisiana so rich.

And Louisiana isn’t exactly the same everywhere you go.

The piney woods, farmland and waterways of the north don’t look quite like the swamps, prairies and marshes farther south. The food changes. Accents change. Even what we call things can change.

But there are threads that seem to run through all of it.

Family. Food. Tradition. Loyalty. Resilience. Helping one another. Standing together when it matters.

Maybe that’s why Oh, Louisiana pulls on my heartstrings.

I wasn’t trying to write a history lesson about a state.

I was trying to capture a feeling.

That moment when the water gets still.

That familiar voice saying, “How are you, darlin’?”

The smell coming from a kitchen.

The sound of life outside after dark.

The places, people and traditions that become so familiar we sometimes forget how much they mean to us.

Until we stop long enough to notice.

It’s our way of life.

It’s Louisiana.

MUSIC BEHIND THE STORY

OH, LOUISIANA

Written by Pamela SHE’REE Jackson
Performed by SHE’REE Country