Joie De Vivre

Category: Cajun Sayings and Stories | Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:22 am

Joie De Vivre(zhwa-de-vee) a joy of life, more of an attitude of life.

My Grandmother, my Dad's mom had an attitude of life. She was a small woman. She had 13 children and raised 11. She lost two when they were young, I don't remember how. I can never remember her saying a cross word to any of us. She was always happy, although she worked very hard. I remember how she would talk to the people on tv like they could hear her. She loved cowboy shows. When someone would be sneaking up on another person she would tell them to watch out he is behind you with a gun, or something similar. Most of the time she would talk to the tv in French. One day she went into the washshed and came out cussing in French. She went onto the back porch and came back with the shotgun, and told us to get out of the way. She went back into the washshed cussing all the way.We heard the shotgun go off and she came out holding up a chicken snake longer than her. She said he won't get anymore of my eggs. The last time I saw her was when Sarah was a baby. She had reverted back to being a baby too, body and mind. My aunt wheeled her out in her wheelchair and told her we were there, not that she understood. My aunt and I were talking to her, without getting a response of course. Sarah started talking and cooing her baby talk. Grandma perked right up and starting cooing back at her. I often wonder what they said to each other.

Last edited: Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:43 am

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glendann wrote on Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:19 am:

I've found a few Chicken Snakes in my moms hen house and my own .My mom mother died in 1945 .I was only 2 yrs old .I heard so many stories of her I felt like I knew her .I was told she was a very sweet kind person and I sure wish I had known her.
There is no telling what Sarah and Grandmother said to each other .That is sweet
that she realised a baby was there with her.

pondlady wrote on Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:57 pm:

Grandparents are wonderful!! I had mine until I was in my 50's and loved every minute of it. Mine were like yours, Sharon, with a love of life they passed on to me. They never seemed to mind my shenanigans, in fact participated.

CritterPainter wrote on Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:45 am:

Wow, sounds like one fantastic lady. Tough old birds are the best, eh? I lost the best grandmother ever 17 years ago, exactly 9 months before my son was born.

Gardenstew wrote on Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:36 am:

I have one grandmother still with us and I really enjoy spending time with her. She has a great sense of humour and a cunning wit. When my mother mentions the working life she had it makes you realise how easy we have it these days.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us Sharon.

jubabe296 wrote on Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:54 pm:

Sharon sounds like your Grandmother was alot like mine!! Both of my grandmothers meant the world to me!! I miss them both soooo much. My Mama's mother was German and had the attitude to go with it!!LOL!! She was never harsh in any way to us but boy would she tell some of the hard to deal with customers at their service station how the cow chews the cud!! LOL!!! My grandparents worked every day except Sunday,(which was spent at chruch)at their service station from before sunrise until some nights after midnight!! They were the hardest working people I have ever known!! My grandmother passed away in 1988. My grandaddy is 101 years old!!! My grandaddy is still a spunky little man!!LOL!!
Thanks for being back some good memories Sharon!!

LittleSister wrote on Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:09 pm:

I'm so very blessed to have both of my grandmothers still with us. They have given so much to each of us.

Thanks for sharing your gram with us. She sounds like she was one speical lady.