Tracy Scioneaux-Gaudet
Current Hometown: Brusly St. Martin
Scioneaux-Gaudet was born and raised in Grand Bayou. She lived there until 2006 when she was forced to leave and built a home 5 miles down the road.
We had so many good childhood memories, my father was a sugarcane farmer. I’m the youngest of seven children, we spent a lot of time outdoors. We played outside, riding four wheelers, I use to play with my cousin a lot. We built wood boats and we would go up and down the display with our wood boats we would build.
I miss the close knit community and having my family so close by. Everything was in walking distance, all of my memories are good for Grand Bayou because I was young growing up. I had both of my parents, they both were very loving. I cannot pick a favorite because I just have so many memories. My mom passed away right before we moved. She was still living before the evacuation, she had cancer. She was going through chemo and so, one of my favorite memories is just having my parents.
I miss most the small community, where you did not have to lock doors, where you visited with your neighbors. Before all the technology took over it was a very simple, happy place to grow up.
No, not really. When we moved from Grand Bayou, I lost a part of my soul. Part of my soul and heart stayed in Grand Bayou because that is where all my great memories were. You know it was unfair that we had to give up our childhood and our childhood memories and now it’s a ghost town. So, now when I pass through there, there’s no good vibes anymore. There is nothing that exists, the community I knew and grew up knowing is diminished and all gone.
When we moved from Grand Bayou, I lost a part of my soul. Part of my soul and heart stayed in Grand Bayou because that is where all my great memories were.