Categories: uncategorized
Date: 31 July 2004 20:36:47
Went last night with the Spouse and some friends from the UK to the Jolly Inn.
That's a building sided and roofed with corrugated aluminum, with a wrap-around porch. It features a cafe, a bar, and a dance hall, where you can order food and drinks. So why go to the cafe or bar areas at all, hah?
I don't know how enthusiastic visitors really are about the Cajun music, but when I bring them there they seem to have a nice time. Hubby describes this music I love so much this way: "You have a dog? Ever accidentally rocked on its tail? THAT noise, the one that comes out of the dog, that's Cajun music."
He swears he's teasing. But I do notice he never goes with me there. Hmph. Just this once because we have guests, he went.
The folks at the next table were probably from a group home. Several had some form of retardation. They seemed to have such a nice time, and happily joined in the group dances. The atmosphere of a place like the Jolly Inn is a modern-day remnant of the old "fait-do-do" from down the bayou. Not so much a dark, smoky "honky-tonk", not at all. More like some sort of family party, a drag-the-sofa-outside-and-roll-up-the-rugs neighborhood dance. Where better to bring vulnerable folks for a night on the town?
There are always children there, too. A couple of little boys, brothers or cousins, dark-eyed charmers, no older than 8, stood to play the washboards with the band. A couple with a black-haired angel of a two-year-old -- perhaps their granddaughter? -- waltzed and two-stepped around the dance floor a few times, the smiling little girl in their arms.
As always, I liked it. But, the guests were tired-- it was 11 p.m.-- so it was time to go. We stood and filed out the door. I waved and smiled to Mr. Jolly as we left, and he winked at me over his busy accordion.