My First Catfish Festival

I remember the first time I'd ever heard of a Catfish Festival.  I don't recall the year exactly but I do remember that Wayne's World was popular at the movies.  I only remember that because Bohemian Rhapsody was on the radio as I headed south on New Hwy 61.   My destination:  Belzoni Mississippi.  (Pronounced Bell-zone-uh just the opposite of bologna... well..at least around here it is).  I was around 15 or 16 and I'd just gotten my driver's license.  I should never have received my driver's license at that time due to the fact that I wasn't a very good driver,  but that is another post for another time.  I was all ready to go but there was a problem with the car.  It had been leaking water and anti-freeze and the radiator was completely empty.  Within an hour or so I had located and replaced the bad heater-core tube, taken a shower, dressed and was well on my way to the Catfish Festival in Belzoni (wherever the hell that was).  I am quite amazed at just how much a young man can accomplish just to sneak away for girls and/or booze! 

On a similar morning my best friend Caleb and I were heading home from God knows where when we heard a loud POP from the undercarriage of his pickup.  We pulled over and I saw oil pouring onto the road from the bottom of the back axle (aka differential).  I reached my hand underneath and felt hot oil pouring out.  Trying to locate the source of the leak I cut my finger wide open on the sharp edge of the gash protruding from the casing.  The gears inside the axle evidently gave way, snapped in pieces and sent a shard of metal straight through the steel wall.  We were devastated!  How were we going to go out and party that night?!  Nevertheless, by the time night fell we had located a new rear axle (differential) at a salvage yard, propped the truck up on cinder-blocks and wot-not and were out on the town!  Of course then we called it riding the strip.  Who or what could have stopped us?  OK enough reminiscing.

 I had never even been to Belzoni so I was relying on a map my friend Caleb had drawn out for me.   He and his girlfriend were already there and partying without me.  All I knew of this "Catfish Festival" was that there was supposed to be live bands, food, girls and beer!  So, here I was driving and driving and driving.  I 'd looked at the map several times.  How far is this place?  Is anybody even going to BE there?  It's out in the middle of nowhere!  Nearly 45 minutes passed and I was begininng to think I was either lost or victim of a cruel joke by my dear friends.  I could see it already... they're doubled over laughing at me and saying "Ha ha!  we told him it was a catfish festival and he bit into it!"  But suddenly to my relief I saw humanity again.   At the intersection of Hwy 49 and Hwy 12 traffic was getting pretty thick.  In fact, you couldn't park near the actual festival unless you got there around 10:00 A.M.  Man that place was happening!  Who would have thought?  It was warm and sunny out, there were live bands, crawfish, catfish, beer, girls and corndogs!  I was a teenager who had just earned (or was reluctantly handed) a driver's license and drove myself to my first festival!  What a day! 

Now, I'm going to be on the stage this Saturday as a performing artist.  Although I've played many venues and festivals I can't help but get excited.  Although I know the crowd may not be what it used to be, the spirit of the Catfish Festival is still there and still strong.  I hope to see you there and for many years to come!