A different list about Louisianians...

So...lots have been written about being from Louisiana. Much of it true, but much I'd never heard of:
1.) We're not all from New Orleans.
2.) Some of us have never (gasp) even been to New Orleans.
3.) We don't have to go to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras.
4.) However, if we're talking about Saints, it's usually not the Catholic kind.
5.) We don't have to have gone to LSU to like the Bayou Bengals.
6.) Most of us have survived at least one hurricane.
7.) We don't all speak French, but we can all pronounce French last names. Silent "T's" really aren't that difficult.
8.) We don't do snow. Stop making fun of us because we can't drive in it. None of us have snow tires. It only happens every few years.
9.) We do have festivals for darn near everything.
10.) Back to Mardi Gras--if you're from SETX, don't bother coming to shop on Mardi Gras in Lake Charles. Stores close early. Also, check out Creole, Mamou, and Lafayette for some awesome Marsi Gras celebrations.
11.)Most of our state is very natural and there's lots of water. We like it that way.
12.) Until the first hard freeze, bug spray is the perfume of choice.
13) Even with the mosquitoes, and muddy water at the coast, we still love living here.
14.) Because, hello, you can get it shipped, I guess, but you can't get fresh crawfish or king cake anywhere else. And...
15.) If you've ever had real Cajun or Creole (and yeah, there's a difference) food in Louisiana, you'll be able to recognize how it's not REALLY the same thing out of state.
16.)We know not to mess with alligators. Because if you don't mess with them & their babies (btw, like one of the only reptiles who do that) they don't mess with you. They're afraid of you. We also know not to feed them. Because when you feed them, Florida happens. That's why we've had not a single human killed by an alligator in Louisiana History.
17.) We are usually friendly people and will respect that you have your opinions, please listen to the reasons we have to support ours. For instance--hunting. Most hunters are also big conservationists. They want healthy wildlife. They want the ecosystem to survive. However, that only applies to native species. The nutria rat was a mistake import. It was brought in because beavers were being hunted too much--we learned our lesson, sadly with both animals. While they've both prevailed, the nutria has destroyed much of our shore protection. Protection we need for hurricanes. And our native animals' numbers are dwindling because nutria are eating their food. So, yes, there's a bounty on nutria.
18.) We are a strong, resilient people. We like our home state.
19.) Different areas of the state are DIFFERENT. I went to college with some women from northwes Louisiana. They don't close anything for Mardi Gras and had never heard of boudin (they were missing out!)
20.) We are very welcoming people. It's not uncommon to be invited in for lemonade, tea, or a cup of Community Coffee.