#southerngrown

[twistingtreeancestry]

Image Description: A caption at the top has a blue bokeh background with the title “A Backstory for Keekee” in the center. The image is of a water tower with words “Lake Charles Home of McNeese State University” across its tank. There are droplets of rain on the lens and the photo is in cooler tones of blue.

Image by Keekalee Photography.

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Since my ancestry starts with me, that’s where we’ll begin as well. I’m Keekee, a writer with a lot of distracting hobbies.

I'm intrigued with how my ancestry has become one of those hobbies as it never crossed my mind when I was younger. As a child, I simply existed in the right now. As an adult, I regret not listening to the stories that my grandparents and other elders told in those days, but that is the way of bittersweet retrospection.

My family lived in the "Cajun Country” of Southwest Louisiana back then, prime hurricane and flooding land. It was also the land of sugar cane and rice silos, alligators and snapper turtles, zydeco and crawfish boils, farmers and traiteurs. It was a land where us kids could run down the street and give a holler to any neighbor we passed by name—cos they knew our Mawmaws and Pawpaws. They taught or went to school with our parents or us. 

We snuck into the cattle fields to crawl on the hay bales. The weathered, wooden, hand-driven fence posts were perfect for shooting cans off it with BB and pellet guns. There were always wild honeysuckles to pick and dragonflies or fireflies to attempt to catch. We sat on the front porch swing and listened as the rain beat down on the tin roof. We laid the hoods of the broken down cars in the yard to stargaze and philosophize.

This neck of the woods is the culmination of where my history has led, but how did it get here? How did I get here? Where did it start? If I'd listened to my Mawmaw and Pawpaw perhaps it could have given me a quicker boost to the past and its discoveries. Since I didn’t, I used what I did know and reached out to the family members that I’m still connected to. Before I knew it, my family tree began to twist up from the soil and its branches began to grow.

Over the ensuing years (and despite numerous, frustrating setbacks), that tree has continued to twist toward the sky and stretch out its branches. The writer in me is spellbound by the stories of people’s lives. It’s captivating, enthralling, spiritual, and sometimes heart-wrenching and infuriating, to discover these long-gone people and learn tidbits of what their lives entailed.

Does anyone else remember them? Who else would care about them? There’s something inside me that doesn’t want these people to fade into the blur and non-existence of history.

So, join me on this journey. Help me to remember these people. Tell me about your people! Who knows, we may be related 🤙🏼

[yogatoyoupdx]

Happy birthday to this badass yogi and our #bossbabe @suthernyogipdx who remains unapologetically herself in ALL of the best ways! 💪🏽💯🎂🎈”Be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” — Judy Garland #badasshumans #bossbabebirthday #sheboss #yogateacher #kickasswomen #ourboss #yogaeverydamnday #pdxyogi #pnwyogi #laurenjfields #mayurasana #peacockpose #badassquotes #judygarland #southerngrown #badassyogi #yogatoyoupdx (at Yoga to You PDX) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4xZuk0h0rZ/?igshid=1wlwjn6oz1v3k

[brecken9310]

Relyf CBD, awarded “The Best in the World” is available at FetchtDelivery.com #relyf #cbd #cbdoil #health #organic #southerngrown #hempfarmers #hemp https://www.instagram.com/p/B2T-lDQhSH_/?igshid=v28e46o0cbnh

[libra-scorpio-opinionista]

Lawd, it's a LOT of them! We were raised on #stripclubanthem here in #ATL, so bout half of my classic jamz by design are supposed to turn errybody into strippers, lol! And don't let there be alcohol involved, or a crush near by! 😆😅😉 #music #southerngrown #Atlanta #bassmusic #atlantagrown #atlantamusic #dirtysouth #dirtysouthbass #twerksum #crunk #crunkandb #southernhiphop #southernscorpio @Regrann from @rebelcircusquotes_ - which song is that for you? / #relatable #rebel #rebelcircus #quotes #lol #funny #humor #memes #rebelcircusquotes #love #inspo #goals #circus #photooftheday #instalike #picoftheday #instadaily #followme #bestoftheday

[jsouthern]

Kicking back with this nice lil fire and some tunes. Think I'm gunna enjoy these cool temps while we got them. #southernliving #livinglife #southernlife #southernhomegrown #southerngrown https://ift.tt/2B62Qgy

[thespeakeazy-blog]

Currently in #Chattanooga via: @richwayct @goldeylocs & @newschannelnine Division is not going to protect them or save you. There is no them. There is only US. #AllLivesMatter #ThereIsOnlyUs #SouthernGrown #LocalRootsGlobalReach

[libra-scorpio-opinionista]

Maaannnn! I can't believe it's been that long! BUT, #this HAS been the #soundtrack for most of my life...(ok, bout half now 😉) And asking to pick a favorite #song, that's like asking to pick your favorite kid! 😅 THE WHOLE DAMN ALBUM! #classic #legendary #flashbackfriday #oldschool #hiphopclassic #outkast #aquemini #ATL #Atlanta #ATLiens #bigboi #andre3000 #atlhiphop #southernhiphop #trutoatlanta #music #musicmatters #musicforyourmind #musicforyoursoul #southerngrown #southernscorpio @Regranned from @therealbigboi - 19 years ago today 9-29-98 #Aquemini 💎👑👑 what's your favorite song ?

[sarahheartsdesign]

#shaky in the thrill of the #southerngrown moment: #dumpstaphunk + #derektrucks + an all-time favorite #theband tune "Don't Do It...Don'tcha break my heart! Pleeeeeeeeze don't do it don'tcha break my heart. My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much...and lettin' ya' know. Now ya got me where ya want me and you won't let me go..." #aboutlastnight (at The Lodge At Sea Island)