Sunday, October 26, 2008

Not For Me - For Obama And For Louisiana

Yesterday morning, Georgianne Nienaber, who writes at Huffington Post, interviewed me for the post titled "Gumbo Granny Blogs From The Bayou For Obama Louisiana", which is now online at their website. Georgianne loves Louisiana and is presently based in Morgan City, which is not far from Thibodaux, as she researches and writes about Louisiana.

I link to her post not to blow my own horn, (truly, I'm somewhat embarrassed to do it) but for the sake of helping Obama's candidacy and with the hope that, when he is elected, he will realize the importance of Louisiana to the rest of the country and pay attention.

Georgianne and I hit it off right away. How can I not love someone who loves Louisiana? I was a little concerned about the interview, because, once I get to talking, I don't self-censor well, as some of you well know. But the interview went well, and I like very much what she wrote. It's a bit too flattering, but I believe that anyone who knows me will recognize the person Georgianne writes about. And that's the highest praise for writing, isn't it? She got it right, and she wrote it well.

65 comments:

  1. WOW!!! There is hope for Louisiana!!! Thanks for being so inspirational for this Louisiana Boy now living in CA!!!!! Keep it up, the world is watching now!!!!


    YOU ROCK

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  2. This was a truly fine article. Congratulations, Mimi! You provided exceptional interview material, and you were fortunate to be working with a good writer. If Electric Voodoo is any testimony, your blog readership should swell. A certain clergy member from the other side of the pond may be beside himself.

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  4. You came out just fine apart from "Gumbo Granny". So, now we know Grandpere's name.

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  5. WOO-HOO!! What a delight! She did a good essay, Mimi, and you were wonderfully articulate. (No surprise there!) And what a lovely photo of your lovely self.

    The only major point she neglected was how beloved you are by so many of us. But that's probably just because you are too modest to have mentioned it. Well, the folks who come over here to Chez Mimi will soon discover it.

    I'm very happy for you, my dear.

    But watch out for that Mad One. God only knows what he's going to do with this. ;-)

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  6. Hi I read about your blog on the Huffington Post so I thought I would stop by.
    I am a few years older than you and I will be 79 in December. I also am voting for Obama, having done so by absentee ballot a few days ago. Atlanta, Georgia, where I live. will probably go for McCain but I have vowed to never again vote for another Republican after the mess GW Bush has left us with.

    I started blogging about 4 years ago and I am still at it. It is amazing how many kindred souls one runs across in the blogesphere.

    come visit me at
    www.driftwoodinspiration.blogspot.com

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  7. Oh dear Grandmere, see the hordes are now coming and us longtime readers will be swamped :-) Great interview. Hope Obama reads it.

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  8. Electric Voodoo, I love your name. I do voodoo, too. Thanks for dropping by and leaving your kind words.

    Prairie Soul, thanks. The clergy member from "over there" did quite nicely by me with his link to the article.

    DP, don't you like "Gumbo Granny"? Tom's name was "out there" before. I mentioned that Grandpère had the same name as a certain Anglican bishop who was written up in the newspapers.

    Hi Lisa! Really! Could I tell her how many folks loved me? That would be prideful and wrong.

    Chancy, welcome. You've been blogging longer than I. I started in January of 2007. I haven't had my 2 year anniversary yet. I wonder if I'll go on for four years. Don't you find it hard work? I shall visit your blog.

    Brian, don't worry. I won't forget my old friends, as I move on up in the world. Fame will not turn my head.

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  9. Congratulations, Mimi! That publication was great!

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  10. Mimi, wonderful story and your picture is perfect. It cancels out the funny one from your beloved Princess. I pray that you have many more years of blogging. I hope Oboma will do right by you all. I am always skeptical about politicians but I have only experienced the bad ones. May be I will experience better with Obama in the Whitehouse
    Again, thanks for being so sweet and strong

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  11. Thanks, Doug, my main supply man - of material for blog posts only. I promise.

    Rudo, thank you for your kind words. I mostly don't trust politicians, either, but this time the choice is truly important, and I pray that Obama will do right by us.

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  12. Congratulations Grandmere! As we've always known, and now the rest of the world knows, you're the best! I wish you every success, and be assured that when you sign that big fat book and movie contract, I'll be right there to borrow money.
    Who do you want to play you in your Biopic? I presume you have George Clooney in mind to play Grandpere.

    I loved the little nosy peek at your bookshelf.

    I hope you realize that "Gumbo Granny" will now follow you everywhere. I'll bet the Mad One of Newcastle is having a Roman holiday with this.

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  13. She certainly did! An excellent article! Congratulations, you deserve the publicity!

    BTW, I just realized I don't have your blog on my link list - am remedying that right now!

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  14. Kewl, Mimi ...

    BTW, I do expect you to hold Obama to it.

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  15. I hope a President Obama will Know better than to disappoint Grandmere.

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  16. found you via the huffington post article. i'm glad i did. keep going, grandma :-)

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  17. I trust that those who learn of you and your blog via HuffPo will soon learn, from comments here, that you are a very beloved figure. Quite right that it would be unseemly for you to mention it, but we can!

    I'm with DP in not caring for "Gumbo Granny" but otherwise a great article.

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  18. Counterlight, when the royalties roll in, I shall establish my own university, and appoint you head of the Dept. of Fine Arts.

    Mauigirl, thanks.

    I'll hold Obama's feet to the fire, CL and Mike.

    Welcome, Anon and thanks.

    Paul, thank you. I love y'all, too. You and DP may have a point. Gumbo suggests gums and teeth, or a lack of the second item.

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  19. OMG a star!!! Will you still talk with hoi poloi that the rest of us are?

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  20. Chere Mimi bien aimee
    CONGRATULATIONS!

    how about Mimi for Mr. Obama's special advisor on Louisianna and the New Orleans recovery!

    chere Mimi, you do us all proud

    hugs

    David@Montreal

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  21. Dear Mimi,

    I read the wonderful Huffington Post article through a link at FranIAm's place. Many congratulations!

    What a lovely piece. And I believe there should be a new position of Ambassador to Louisiana for you to fill.

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  22. Woo HOO! You're a celeb, Mimi (and for a good cause!)

    Enjoy your 15 minutes (or more) of fame!

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  23. Congratulations, Mimi... the cats and I think you are the Cat's Meow! Great job!

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  24. What fun to see that article! I wonder why so few spell your name correctly however. I believe it is Grandmère.

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  25. Mimi -- It was a lovely article and as a devoted reader of Wounded Bird and only a sometmes reader of Huffington it made me determined to get to Huffington more often. -- Couldn't get here more often!

    Molly the WonderDog also is very pleased.

    And I bet you'll hear from President Obama!

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  26. Congratulations Grandmere! It was a great article, and I too enjoyed the peak at your books!

    And keep up the Godly work you do for our mother earth and for the right relationships of all God's children--respecting the dignity of every human being.

    God bless you!!

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  28. Finally the mystery is solved...
    "Grandmere"(Cajun for grandmother)

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  29. I'm with David@Montreal. President Obama should appoint you special advisor on Louisiana. It only makes sense.

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  30. Ah, Mimi, what a lovely piece 'boutcha. It makes me wish I was a Cajun, too. I love to read your blog. Loved the picture of you and the one of your bookshelf.

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  31. Caminante and all, I won't forget my old friends.

    I'd be proud to represent Louisiana in the Obama administration. That has a nice ring, doesn't it. I can stop typing maladministration. I might even cancel my plans to convince the French to buy us back.

    And the cats think I'm the cat's MEOW. What more can I ask?

    Piskie, I believe the correct French spelling is "grand-mère", but I left the hyphen out, because the accent was enough of an extra to type.

    Grandpère just read the article, and he thinks Georgianne writes well and that she captured my personality accurately. He should know.

    Thanks all for the lovely comments.

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  32. I just read the article about your blog in The Huffington Post and thought I would stop by and say hello. I have really enjoyed your blog. You have a new reader in Japan.

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  33. Hi Kirstin!

    Mitsugo, welcome from Japan! I'm pleased to have a reader from your country. Please come again.

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  34. Nice article Grandmère. Only bit I wasn't sure about was 'Force of Nature'. Otherwise, very flattering as you said.

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  35. Oh my, Grandmère, you belong to the world now. I will do what I can do to keep you humble, but I am just one man.

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  36. Ah, we knew her when....but will she remember us LIttle People when she's in the bright lights of fame?

    IT

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  37. We're proud of you Mimi. Thank you for representing our blogger community so well.

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  38. IT remarks: "Ah, we knew her when....but will she remember us LIttle People when she's in the bright lights of fame?"

    Good question. I can just see her becoming Barack's rejoinder to "Joe the Plumber." Except that she's smarter. And better looking. And living in the reality-based world. ... But I think she will remember us.

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  39. I loved the peek at your shelf.

    And it is one thing to meet up in person like we did in NYC. But it is altogether another step to actually see the computer you blog from.

    only advice is that you must work very hard to make sure that your new readers don't make the mistake of accidentally following you over to a blog out of Newcastle. I don't think you would want that on your conscience!

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  40. Only bit I wasn't sure about was 'Force of Nature'.

    What do you mean? Like pooping?

    I've still got the vapors over the image of a gangly 12 year old in a tin bath.

    KJ, tomorrow is another day, and all will be back to normal. You needn't worry.

    IT, I used my support of your lovely wedding and Prop 8 on a blog today to counter the comments of a gay man who is nothing less than a bigot against ALL Christians. He wants us gone, because he thinks we are all like the fundies.

    Lisa, I've already said that I will never forget my old friends. In a few days this will die down, and all will be as it was before.

    So Dennis. It's all about the computer, is it? Thanks a lot.

    The blogger out of Newcastle linked to Huff Post, so I suppose it could happen. That's not my problem. Everyone knows that he and I don't really get on.

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  41. Mimi, dear, it was only a matter of time before you became a national figure. Where better to come out than on the HuffPost? The piece is well written, and I LOVE the photo of you and the tantalizing peek at your bookshelf.

    I'm with Counterlight: A President Obama will surely know not to disappoint Grandmere Mimi, and preferably should call upon her talents and wealth of knowledge.

    I loved that the writer mentioned Bailey White's book 'Mama Makes Up Her Mind', which is a favorite of mine. Do you know it?

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  42. Hi Mary Clara. It's good to hear from you. I don't know Bailey White's book, but I'm going to look it up.

    I liked Georgianne right from the beginning. We hit it off, and I think she did a fine job. I was a bit anxious about how it would turn out, but I needn't have been.

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  43. What do you mean? Like pooping?
    No although with my condition it would certainly be apposite! Force of Nature tends to be used here as a negative, imbued with images of earthquake, flood and hurricane, within which, considering your location and recent events, I would not have thought a pleasing epithet. Please advise me if it has a more positive understanding colloquially.

    ...and let me assure you 'gangly' was never a term appllied to me at that age. 'Pudgy' definitely, but gangly, No.

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  44. Oh, Grandmère, you're FAMOUS!!!

    And rightly so.

    Nice interview.

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  45. Heh, heh...we knew Grandmère Mimi before she was famous ;)

    Mwah! :: kisses your cheek ::

    Good for you!

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  46. How completely random that the "Anglican Elements" symbol was posted into the article! But the line I love is

    Trying to structure a conversation with any southern woman is all but impossible.

    Way to go, Gumbo Grannie!

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  47. Congratulations, grandmere! Oh my. You're going to have to hire an assistant now to handle comments.

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  48. Belated congrats, Chere Mimi! I was travelling all day yesterday on my way back from Baltimore (terrible traffic for the last 50 miles.) Erika pointed me to this this morning. Bless you, and may your Grandmother Wisdom help inspire a few more to take the courage to speak what they have learned and know.

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  49. ¡Nuestra Abuelita es muy famosa!
    Felicidades. A great article about a great person.

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  50. TheMe, the image of a "pudgy" 12 year old in a tin bath is no better. Make it go away!!! Why was your grandmother bathing you at that advanced age? Were you a little slow?

    My prediction is that the fame will be short-lived. Sic transit gloria mundi.

    Thanks for the kind words and good wishes, my dear friends.

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  51. From Clumber, whom I was in the habit of addressing as "you good old dog", but is now a wicked old dog.

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  52. As Elvis would say "Thank ya very much"...

    And don't miss the newest drawing of Gumbo Granny which will grace the autobiography/cookbook she is "ritin".

    (good thing she knows I'm kidding! or I could say adios to my toodles as well!)

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  53. I am so proud to say that I knew Mimi when she was still posting under a deliberate misspelling of her real name... ;-)

    Mimi, dearest--you did us proud. As a fellow Southern woman who also resists structure, I salute you. Can I work for you when you get your cushy job in Washington? I'm sure you can write your own speeches, but if you need a hack, I'd be happy to offer my services. ;-)

    Much love,
    Doxy

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  54. ya'll gettin' famous down in the bayou, ya hear.

    quelle visage!

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  55. "Caminante and all, I won't forget my old friends. "

    I see you are stealing lines from Brittany Spears.

    You'l intending to invite us all to the next party, as wait staff?

    Seriously, congrats! It was a nice article.

    FWIW
    jimB

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  56. Susan, I saw that "The Lead" at the Episcopal Café linked to the article.

    Clumber, with photoshopping friends like you and MadPriest, who needs enemies?

    Doxy, I've read your writing. You shall write all of my speeches.

    Jim, thanks. I'm lining up serving staff now. If you have experience, you could have a waiter's job, but if not, how does dishwasher sound to you? Or you could carry my bags in my travels.

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  57. Well I hope someone tells the Great Man about this.

    Now if he should need an advisor to the E.U......

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  58. Dearest Mimi, I think Blogger ate my post of a while back. So here goes again. I've been cheering since hearing from you about your newfound fame (well, newfound in HuffPo circles - you've had blogosphere fame since way before, and on more than one continent!) and I love the article, sexist headline and all. Can Doxy and I work together as your DC hacks? We can be your Southern Sidekicks -- she is a real Southerner, I am a transplant, but we both give hugs and like to spin a good story (all true of course) and enjoy good food and feminist feistiness. Let me know where to sign up. We'll carry your bags, too. Love, Jane (and +Maya Pavlova, who is sitting next to the computer under the desk lamp as I write)

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  59. Hooray for Mimi! Great article -- I love your photo and I love the photo of your bookshelf. It made me want to come to your house and curl up in your library for a while!

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  60. Jan, of course you may join Doxy on my staff. You'd bring in the French connection, too. And +Maya would be the faith-based connection.

    LJ, come on over.

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  61. I am so proud to say that I knew Mimi when she was still posting under a deliberate misspelling of her real name... ;-)

    Know the real name, and know that Mimi used a different handle (at first) at Fr. Jake's . . . just can't remember what it was!

    No matter: congrats, Mimi! :-)

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  62. JCF, my real name is no big secret. Anyone who wants to find it can. I had to go back to the old handle at the Huffington Post to leave a word of thanks for all the lovely comments over there. The powers at HP wouldn't let me change my name.

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