Visiting with an elderly gentleman before service one Sunday night, we got to talking about where we were from.
“You don’t sound like you are from south Louisiana,” I remarked.
“Neither do you!” He responded, and that led us on a conversation of growing up in Mississippi and Alabama.
He told stories of his youth, while I listened and commented here and there. Then he asked “Do you know what a biddy is?”
“Why yes, sir, those are the little biddy hatched chickens. My grandmother used to feed and care for her biddies. Then, when the time was right, and they were old and edible enough, she would wring their necks and cook ‘em up for supper!”
We were both very thankful that we never saw that spectacle!
Looking through pictures of our vacation from last March, I thought of that gentleman. He’s gone on to his heavenly home now, but I immediately thought of our “biddies” conversation. You may be asking why I would remember this gentleman as I fondly thumbed through pictures of our cruise. Chickens and roosters, that’s why!
Now, I know turkeys are the bird du jour, but how often do you go on a cruise, take shore excursions and see so many chickens and roosters??
This fellow (or gal?) was is Nassau. I named him Foghorn Leghorn. He had a bit of an attitude. Cocky, if you will! Pun intended, hee hee!
Our next stop was Key West. Let me tell you, chickens stroll all over the town down there. I suppose you could call them “free range.” I found out this started when cockfights were legal. Everybody, it seems, had a bird to fight. When the practice was outlawed, the chickens or roosters were just let go, to roam the town at will.
Then there was this guy. He showed up on out patio one evening. I vaguely remembered hearing roosters crowing somewhere nearby. Vaguely, because I don’t get up with the birds anymore. Mr. Rooster hung out a few nights with us, encouraged by my husband feeding him bird seed.
I warned John: “Honey, you will walk outside one morning and slip on all the rooster poop, if you don’t stop feeding him!” Do y’all know, Mr. Rooster had the nerve to walk right up to the french doors, and stare into our house, waiting on some grub??
I guess you can tell by now, this is just a fun post, remembering dear church friends, fun vacations and strange visitors on our patio. There’s no rhyme or reason to it, except to share stories and pictures.
I’m thankful for so much: that I had the opportunity to visit with that sweet man, that I’ve never seen a chicken get it’s neck wrung, and that my sweet hubby and I are able to travel. I’m even thankful we had Mr. Rooster for a few days – it brought great joy and laughter watching the grandkids chase him around the yard. And I wonder: What would they have done if they’d caught him?? Screamed like girls, that’s what!!
Good friends, good memories, good times, great family. That’s what I’m thankful for this year. How about you?
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1 ESV
Grace be with you,
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