Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2010, Gonzales, LA

Lafayette Car Show

My riding podnuh called me just as I had gotten in from Dearborn Friday night asking what I thought about a ride over to Scott, LA (Lafayette) to an auto show held in the parking lot of Cajun Harley Davidson. "But of course!", was my response. "Where do you want to meet?" was the next question. We mutually agreed on a place so at 9:00, Saturday morning we met for our ride over to the car show.

Before I left this morning, I found my front tire was nearly flat, so I aired it up and when we got to the Harley shop in Scott, I talked to the service people and they convinced me it would better to have a new tube installed. So, for 3 hours we wandered around a somewhat small car show with temperatures at 92° in the shade and can only imagine what it was out on the concrete.

This wasn't necessarily a restored car show for many were fiberglass replicas of custom cars. There was the abundance of 60s Chevys and Fords with a few Rat Rods thrown in for good measure. There was even a motorcycle drawn hearse, compliments of Pellerin Funeral Home.

While we waited on the tire, we sauntered next door to Fezzo's, a local restaurant for lunch. I'm telling you, their version of a loaded baked potato was outstanding. It consisted of a large pomme de terre laden with crawfish etouffe on top. Tres bon! Slap yo mama!

After the tube was finally installed on Boudreaux, we headed south out of Lafayette, cruising through Abbeville, Delcambre and New Iberia. Approaching Breaux Bridge, the bottom decided to fall out of the sky and we found ourselves seeking shelter under the cover of an abandoned service station. I'm not opposed to riding in a little rain but when it's lightening, blowing rain and hail, it's time to draw the line. Besides, riding in that kind of weather brought back haunting images of the Harley drawn hearse back at the car show.

After holding up there for an hour or so, we decided to take our chances getting home. We hadn't traveled 10 miles before the skies opened up again and we found ourselves parked at local grocery store on Hwy 31, just north of Breaux Bridge. At this point, we figured putting on rain suits might not be a bad idea.

Anyway, with a few items of clothing on the damp side we eventually made to Highway 190 where everything had dried out. Even though spots were a bit disagreeable, we both counted it as a great Saturday ride with 300+ miles on our bikes.

Hoedown Detroit

hoe·down :
-noun

1.

a community dancing party typically featuring folk and square dances accompanied by lively hillbilly tunes played on the fiddle.

2.

the hillbilly or country music typical of a hoedown.

A local radio station put's on a "hoedown" every May here in Detroit. Now, a "hoedown" isn't necessarily the same in all places but the folks in the frozen tundra look for any excuse to get out when the weather warms and the sun shines.

Detroit's hoedown is held downtown on the St Claire River right beside the tunnel that scoots daily travelers under the river to Windsor, Ontario. It's a free event with several country bands on various stages.

Participants dig through the bottom of closets and under beds to pull out old hats and boots to look somewhat southern, country or western. I'm telling you, Nashville denizens would lay on the ground and have a big ole belly laugh at some of the costumes that appeared. But bless their hearts, they really try and enjoy the heck out of themselves.

The music is constant and loud, the vendors sell cheap western hats and T-shirts and the food is plentiful and palatable.

Not bad for a Sunday afternoon in a city.

The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village

Years ago, Henry and Clara Ford set up the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Although they initially funded it, they left no provisions for the upkeep of it. At one point, a few years ago, the area fell into disrepair so badly it appeared it would have to be demolished. So, a foundation of volunteers and benefactors raised funds and have restored it to a magnificent reflection of not only Ford's history but 19th and 20th century America itself.

Greenfield Village provides a walking history tour of everything from railroads, aviation and automobiles to glass blowers, printing presses and farming. One impressive demonstration was the vintage Jacquard loom that was capable of weaving any image directly into the fabric. What's so impressive about that? Well, it was a programmable loom, invented in 1801 that took it's cues from cards with holes in them. In other words, it was the first punch card system which ultimately, led to IBM developing the first computer. Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Steve Jobs wouldn't be who they are today were it not for Joseph Marie Jacquard.

The Henry Ford Museum is not necessarily a pat on it's back to the Ford Motor Company. Sure it has a slew of old cars but also tells the story of American ingenuity in steam engines, electricity, farming, aeronautics and culture.

By the end of the day, my feet felt flatter than the streets I walked on for most of the day so I hobbled off to the car and checked into the Marriott Courtyard.

Dearbornistan

Ack ! !............Update:

Just when I thought I'd never have to deal with Detroit again, I find myself headed for Dearborn, Michigan. Oh well, like I told my wife, there's got to be a blessing laying around in there somewhere. So, within a few days, I was able to share my faith with someone who had a very different idea of what an independent protestant Christian was.

After a couple of weeks here, I've had some pretty positive experiences. Before arriving, my perception of Dearborn was pretty grim, simply because it, like many places I've been to, were for the most part a sum of rumors and fear or reluctance of the unknown.

Dearborn is where Ford Motor Company is headquartered and streets reflect the city's dedication to the company. Streets and roads such as Ford Road, Fairlane and Mercury Drives are only a few examples. Had Henry Ford been born in Amarillo, Texas, Detroit would be a defunct fur trading outpost.

Part of my reluctance for coming here was knowing this was one of, if not the biggest centers of Arab/Muslim culture in the United States. Yes, the place is running over with ladies (and sometimes gentlemen) dressed in Arab garb and restaurants, stores and signs on cars are first hand evidence that make it the norm here. That being said, no one has held me down and forced a felafel into my mouth or have been discourteous to me at all. I've even heard Arabs calling into talk radio (yes, I'm one of those listeners) with American views to the right of Karl Rove. After all, many families have been here for 4 and 5 generations who came here to work on Henry Ford's moving assembly line. I've met a few people here and in many respects, they're just like me, trying to hack out a living and pursue wealth and happiness and grow old around their grand-kids.

Do I necessarily find Dearborn charming and have thoughts of moving here? Absolutely not but Arabs and Muslims are here and not going away. Like the Jews, Irish, Italians and Asians before them, they too will eventually place an indelible mark on the culture of the USA. It is what it is.

Ironically, Rima Fakih of Dearborn is the new Miss USA in Las Vegas, May 15. Fakih, 24, formerly from New York was raised in Dearborn, Michigan. She beat out 50 other contestants, including runner-up Miss Oklahoma, for the grand prize. It is said that the local Muslims are divided on her winning Miss USA, particularly the swimsuit division.

Probably the pole dancing video doesn't help either.

Irony indeed.