How to Know You're a Cajun

"YOU JUST MIGHT BE A CAJUN IF..."

Genealogy reveals more than a few overlapping branches in your family tree.

Your last name isn't pronounced at all like it is spelled: case in point,aye-bear = Hebert.

To "go by ya mom en dems" is synonymous with a visit to the home folks.

It doesn't sound threatening when someone says "I wanna axe you about something!"

You had no idea what a county line was until your first trip out of the bayou state.

Your children in Catholic elementary schools think "public" is another religion.

It's perfectly normal to "wrench" your hands before you eat.

You know that a "dressed po-boy" looks and tastes better than the plain kind.

One of your favorite colors is "K & B purple."

It's traditional to like your rice and politics "dirty."

You wonder where the mosquitoes have gone when you travel north.

"Nawlins" is the biggest city in your world.

When someone mentions going skiing, you picture the speedboat on the bayou instead of snow.

There's concern at the local cemetery that deceased family members might return during the spring floods.

You're genuinely surprised to learn that Mardi Gras is actually not a national holiday.

You know what a nutria rat looks like and still choose it as your softball team mascot.

Your diet includes exotic foods like frogs, crabs, boudin, jambalaya, king cake, and lots of beer.

You wash the smell of boiled crawfish off your hands with vinegar.

At least one member of your household goes hunting and/or fishing as often as possible.

The phrase "I betcha" is frequently heard in friendly conversations.

You use the "lonn-moe" to cut the grass.

There's at least one well-used black cast-iron pot in your kitchen.

Your reflexes include tapping your toes to the beat of Zydeco and Cajun French music.

Note for interested readers: The Louisiana topic in Suite 101 has another set of amusing criteria to help identify that little bit of Cajun in you!

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