My wife of 46 years passed away 2wks ago. I had been scanning UA-cam in some mindless ritual and ....suddenly found myself able to wrap myself in something pure for the 1st time since the bedside vigil came to a close. I wish we had been able to watch the program together as it is one of those things that would've just been time perfectly spent. We found joy in such distraction. Although we both have read hundreds of books as we couldn't seem to resist it ,I've not had the urge to pick anything up until now. I immediately ordered the book from the library. If she was still here I would have attempted to have presented her with an autographed copy as it would have been a perfect gift. Thanks for restoring me in some way. Darron Kennedy/Pearl River, La.
I was a teenager working at a summer camp in Louisiana when I first came across this book. I could not put it down and it woke my spirit up- Ive lived a great life so far, and more to come!
I wonder if anybody knows what National Geographic year and volume that their story was published in. I collect NG This is a great documentary of free spirit and nature, true knowledge ❤
@dirtinnails - thank you for taking the time to share this. Although I'm just seeing this video for the 1st time in my life, it's always good to know how people you are watching a video of are doing. I haven't finished the video, but I will, and by the other person's comment sadly the lady died. I have a place in my heart for Baton Rouge, as I lived there in mid '90s as a bachelorette for several years as well as with other bachelorettes I lost contact with. I haven't been back since but thru this awesome platform of UA-cam I am not a stranger. And I miss dearly the Louisiana cuisine. I taught my children how to eat crawfish. 😁 Have a blessed day.
I've watched a lot of things on UA-cam (most poorly done), TV, theater, and in life in general. Very few times have I've been enthralled. I've been entertained, amused, scared, mad, and many other things. Enthralled and even a bit envious? I can't remember when that last happened to me. Thank you very much for sharing your story, your life.
***** I'd like a ride on the Mississippi. Not only would that be fun and interesting, but educational. A creole home would be nice also. It's like a forgotten land done there and I've been a couple times, so I loved it. I'll envy your trip.
im a grownass man and I was teary eyed watching this,im coming to the last chapters in "my story"and im planing to cash out all my "stuff"and hit the road.the bayou country on my list of pkaces in this great country I plan to visit,thank you for this beautiful view into your world and life.
I was glad to see your comment and only an hour ago!. Yes wake up America! Im getting ready to go off road myself things are getting ready to get pretty scary. Im so glad that I have the skills to survive out there where ever that may be but I know it will be somewhere a bit more hidden than I am now. Somewhere tiny or hidden maybe an earthship but I feel we are all gonna have to count on ourselves and the skills we hopefully have to make it through whats coming. Maybe Ill see you , Bless you and may God keep us All :)
Idk if you still look at comments here but I'm wondering what it was like for you as far as pirates and hurricanes living on the Bayou? It's my dream to live on the Bayou.
I'm a writer who has lived in NYC for 49 years but was born and raised in the bayous of Cameron Parish. The bayou is in the blood and will be in the blood forever. Honored to know the bayou.
This is LIVING! This is following your soul in the path that you wish and not giving in to societal expectations. While it may not be for everyone, it was for this lady and how fortunate she is to have followed her soul to exactly where she was suppose to be.... too bad many of us will never do this.
I don't know but something bout the way she tells her story is just beautiful full of love and soul gives you a different better way a life could and can be lived if you choose!! She is beautiful inside and out I could listen to her story's all day
This is the most accurate depiction of life on the bayou as someone who has lived in the Atchafalya Basin my entire life… thank you so much these ARE my people
I've thumbed all across this country, first daughter was born in Lafayette. Louisiana has always had my heart, a true treasure. Thanks for sharing, got me thinking I need to go back to one of my first loves, Louisiana. Recommend all to go visit. God bless 😇🙏
What an awesome video. Brought back some great memories. Growing up in Hialeah in the 60's I spent most of my summers and weekends in the Big Cyprus Swamp just enjoying and exploring the Everglades. I still go camping and exploring, but for some reason, being in the middle of Kansas just isn't the same. :-) Thank you for sharing.
"She" was flat out friggin beautiful.. and SHE still IS! WOW what a peaceful vid.. your face is perfect for the camera. No doubt you could have maid a living in Hollywood.. I am glad the the river got to enjoy your beauty..
I love this. So much experience of life is done in the home. God blessed this man and this woman then I say a prayer that the lord has continued this family traditional
Works both ways...a man or a woman. Poor Calvin still has a VERY sad face in this documentary. Don't know if you noticed it. Can't blame Gwen, but she did up and leave him. I'm glad she found happiness, though.
I ran the Atchafalaya many a time, from Morgan City to the offshore rigs, and back, but always on a schedule. I always envied the ones who lived back off the main channel, and off the clock. I enjoyed the company of the Cajuns I worked with, manay of whom still lived by the old ways. I went from a kid to an adult there, too. But in time off, I went back to Tampa, and later a small town in the swamps of North Florida. This video catches the swamp very well, and also the young people who were trying all kinds of ways to live. Now we are seniors, and many of us still trying new ideas. Thanks for a beautiful video, sharing a part of your life, and bringing back a forgotten part of my life..
Keep looking. It's still there, in the music in the local bars, in the stories of the old people, and in the backwaters of the swamp itself. I'd start with a couple of big pieces of boudain, and go from there.
I agree. The worst part was her saying they drifted apart. No ma'am you cheated, bet money he never fully drifted apart. He would have been just fine hanging out in a tiny shack on the side of that river. He built that huge boat for her and her only. Try finding a man that would do that today. Cheaters destroy so much in their path. My whole outlook of this changed. I do commend her for being honest, but in the end she only cared about herself
@@robbyrobinson4500 Yea, her life was so beautiful, but then just so casually, cya bye. Awomens are like that. Just toss us away like an old favorite sweater.
OMG!!!! there you are!!! i've always wondered where you ended up. i read your book. years ago. would loan it to friends, never got it back. would buy another...and another....they were as enrapt as i was. had to read it over and over. what an awesome experience for you. thank you so much for taking me along.
As a young boy, I spent a lot of time with a family that lived in the basin & raised 10 children. Some are still living & some are not. I have so many wonderful memories that are invaluable and I wish I could relive those happy times. I have seen the good, the bad & the ugly of what has happened to the basin. The worst thing that ever happened was the intrusion of the Corps of Engineers diverting waters that wanted to go their own way. These diversions ruined the hunting & fishing in the basin. I went out there a couple of years ago and had tears in my eyes when I left. I will never return.
I wish I had a place like that. I'm thinking of just buying "walk thru" property in the woods somewhere & building a tiny shed/home on it. Not a place to live , but to have a place that time doesn't change unlike everything else in this world
One of the most amazing places I've ever been! In 2010 my wife and I travelled from overseas to visit my sister in Texas. From there, we drove to New Orleans for some fun and on our way back to Dallas, I got the itch to explore something other than the tourist spots. we stopped and enquired at a roadside facility as to how we could explore the bayou. A lady told us to wait on the porch and 30 minutes later a gnarly old dude turned up in an old truck pulling an even older aluminium boat on a trailer. We could hardly understand a word he said due to his accent but he took us on a slow boat ride through the swamp for the next two hours. I recorded some of my best memories on my video camera that day.
Born in La but raised in MS. Lived on houseboat for the first twelve years of my life. Ours was not as nice as yours. You appear to be the first hippy lady. Good for you! Love this video.
I'm a native Houstonian, but some of my fondest memories are from south LA when I attended LSU. Gwen and I are the same age, and I remember some of the things she talked about during that era. I went to college with some kids who were raised in DeRidder, Mamou, Golden Meadow, Henderson, New Iberia. I remember driving from Houston to Baton Rouge BEFORE the Corps of Engineers built that big bridge across the Atchafalaya River. Great food in that area! During my LSU days, I remember when the campus put us on lockdown b/c of the shooting of MLK. They were afraid there would be riots in B.R. That seems like a lifetime ago. The people I met in B.R. were wonderful. Many of them still live in the area and in Crowley and Eunice. :)
wow , how very cool to live like that in those days . i'm a child of the sixties and have older siblings your age and we all grew up on a farm in southwestern new jersey. corn fields and cedar swamps and of course the delaware river. i woud'nt trade those days for all the gold on earth. now in my mid5o's i;m planning a shanty boat for my retirement here in north carolina . what a wonderful way of life . oh , and your cute , then and now.........!
CELTICFOXSTUDIO77777 Yes, I wish things were still like it was back then! Times and people have changed SOOO much!! I live in Louisiana on the Atchafalaya River but I didn't grow up here.We love to go on the Pearl River, 2 miles in the woods and stay on weekends but would love to live there all the time as it's so peaceful with fresh air too!! Hope you enjoy your retirement!!!
For those complaining about the fund raising, 2 words, fast forward. They've gotta make money to keep the lights on. For those complaining about her leaving him. It kinda looked like their non marital relationship had run it's natural course. I've learned more about myself in the dissolution of relationships than I could have ever imagined. We should take that knowledge forward to become a more enriched person, no matter how much it sucks at the time. It appears from their "reunion" they did exactly that. I gotta say though, I thought it was going to be that she ran away with the photographer, his lens sure loved her so I figured he did too. They lived their dream, not so we could live it vicariously through them...nevertheless we have. Well done video. Thanks for the visions of what was, what could be or what could have been. Dreamscapes of the 70s.
I have really enjoyed this video very much! You are a very beautiful Lady, inside and out, then and now!! Such a sweet soul and great heart you have and I don't know you but it's obvious you are just a great person!! I am sure everyone that views this video will feel the same way!!
Lady you were beautiful as a yong. women an you are still beautiful an lovely woman,i love your story we had a hose boat and love it. still whit the same lady 44 years later so mutch memory an happy est.
What a wonderful lady, I hope I’m half as wise as she is when I’m of that age, I’ve lived on a boat on a small navigable River for 18 months now and it’s a great life
I think about you two often, how lucky you two were to experience such a magical love, a precious, sweet, private love in Nature's bossom. To be in love & make love in the precious Bayou. To be in love in the south.
We get older bit our hearts we are still young meeting good people and sharing life is great experience. A singer called Stuart Adamson had a song Big Country this video is exactly what he was singing about sadly he past a way some years ago but when I see films like this I always think of their music. The Band was also called Big Country.
@@saintb4753 Howdy, I agree. I'm trying to move to the area as soon as possible. Just having a hard time finding simple, small basic as is houseboat, float house, small house, cabin or just about any thing habitable for one adult, possibly two in the future when I get married,a small dog and cat. Only thing I see are houseboat rentals by the day that are way too fancy and expensive. Just a humble guy that wants a humble peaceful life. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks, C.M.
Loved the video, and the amazing house boat they built. I wish they would've explained or shown what ever happened to the house boat. Dying of curiosity as to what happened to the house boat.
Very nice n brings back great memories. I hunted on and close to bayou chene, if this is where she is talking about n pictures look familiar. I gres up on Mermentau river water skiing, fishing n hunting all year at our camp n when I got older started fishing on the Atchafalya river n basin. I now live in Philippines n that is one thing I miss a lot n hope to go visit one day. God Bless n peace b w u all!!
I remember the first time I saw Pierre Part…I was in love. Even though I live in Indiana..I have maintained our long distance love affair! Part of my heart remains in the basin!
I so enjoyed this! Excellently produced and filmed! My father came home from WW2, married my mother and lived on a houseboat when first married. I was able to share this with them before they both passed into Glory. While watching with them it brought many heart warming memories to them and opened up a chapter of their lives I'd heard very little about! Many thanks for sharing this. Is there a DVD available for purchase? I would enjoy sharing this with my son and daughter while telling more of their grandparents life story! Again, many thanks!
You can’t control falling in love with someone else. She said she gave it a shot for another year before breaking up with him, but it’s true that it seems sad. Like he didn’t move on to the same happiness she did. Or maybe he’s just shy and that’s why we get that vibe from him.
@@shauncummings2361 uhh… from her version they “went separate paths”, we don’t get his. Kinda funny how it’s all about her when it was his idea in the first place. And “separate paths”… What that actually means is he wanted to stay there and she found her a captain making big money and opted to leave her husband (by common law) for higher social status. It’s absolutely disgusting.
You are such a pleasant narrator. I thought id you when you were talking about your grandma when she would tell you stories. It reminded you of what heaven would be like??? Well, thats what you did for me and im sure many, many others. Such a pleasure.
Tis story, e settings, e experience they hold, r all so beautifully sentimental n poignantly romantic. E faraway look in e lady's eye were so sensual it totally charmed me..
I would want to build a life like this with someone, but it's disheartening when that "someone" doesn't want to put forth the effort! All my dreams are gone with the wind working and slaving for the corporate man's dream; not mine! 😥
Such a beautiful person and story. What ever happened to the barge with the house on it? That would be a great museum piece. Take it to the Wooden Boat Festival in Madisonville, LA, October 14 and 15, 2017. Thank you, Gwen !!
I enjoyed the story up until you fell in love with someone else. I guess Calvin really didn't have much choice but to find love elsewhere. I suppose it's true, all good things come to a end.
What an outstanding video. Halfway through the story, I was thinking I should comment about how beautiful this woman is and was, how Calvin and her had such a wonderful life. Then she goes to work on some boat, and chooses to allow herself to fall in lust with someone else. The reunion 30+ years later was painful to watch because I sympathize with Calvin. Yes he moved on too, but I was expecting this to end with them still together. A long happy marriage. Maybe Calvin had passed away, but she was still surviving with all they had learned and built together. But no. F*@k.
It certainly catches the swamp very well and I really loved their story but I could've done without the fundraising! Fortunatly you can skip those parts!!
Wow, back in time when people let you live your life, and even supported you with gifts or trade..... do that now, and someone would be making pissy calls to local "authorities" saying how you are hurting the environment and that you need to be stopped.
Do u miss Calvin u were lucky I miss the whole thang n I ain't been there but I grew up in Tennessee n the Cumberland river as a kid so I've seen some o this
Lol what council? What regulation? Also notice how they don’t talk about where all their poop went. Hahaha right into the water they bathed in I’m sure!
There isn't anything similar to Cajun Country and Cajun culture.. Bayou Country, Morgan City, Houma, Thibodaux all the little towns and back roads in between the gulf and south of Baton Rouge. I lived there from the early 80s to mid late 80s... Cajun music couples dancing in the streets or Plaza, you just don't see this in other uptight areas of the u.s... I know it's changed... and may not ever be the same as when I was there in the 80's... Gwen has such a way with words so pure and simple, and can feel the words and not only hear what she is saying.
“Honey, wear sunscreen”. Did we even know what sunscreen was when we kids? I certainly did not but wish I’d had that exact advice! Thanks for sharing this story!
My wife of 46 years passed away 2wks ago. I had been scanning UA-cam in some mindless ritual and ....suddenly found myself able to wrap myself in something pure for the 1st time since the bedside vigil came to a close. I wish we had been able to watch the program together as it is one of those things that would've just been time perfectly spent. We found joy in such distraction. Although we both have read hundreds of books as we couldn't seem to resist it ,I've not had the urge to pick anything up until now. I immediately ordered the book from the library. If she was still here I would have attempted to have presented her with an autographed copy as it would have been a perfect gift. Thanks for restoring me in some way. Darron Kennedy/Pearl River, La.
Lifting you up in prayer. ❤
I am sorry for your loss.Prayers for you.
Oh sweetheart im so sorry.... Im sending you tons of love.... If you get this, how ya holding up?
Sorry for your loss...hope you're finding some peace and healing 🕊💝🙏
So sorry for your loss. Consider yourself greatly blessed to have had such a wonderful relationship. God bless you and keep you, Darron.
I was a teenager working at a summer camp in Louisiana when I first came across this book. I could not put it down and it woke my spirit up- Ive lived a great life so far, and more to come!
I'm 38 & I believe watching this has re-awakened my spirit & need for hard work & simple living....
The book may be my very favorite too .. I’m glad someone else feels that too.
I wonder if anybody knows what National Geographic year and volume that their story was published in.
I collect NG
This is a great documentary of free spirit and nature, true knowledge ❤
02/25/2023
Had the pleasure of meeting Mr Calvin at a crawfish boil/dog funeral at a friend's camp.
He is healthy and appears to be in good spirit.
He looks so sad to have lost her though ..... lost the love of his life 😢
@dirtinnails - thank you for taking the time to share this. Although I'm just seeing this video for the 1st time in my life, it's always good to know how people you are watching a video of are doing. I haven't finished the video, but I will, and by the other person's comment sadly the lady died. I have a place in my heart for Baton Rouge, as I lived there in mid '90s as a bachelorette for several years as well as with other bachelorettes I lost contact with. I haven't been back since but thru this awesome platform of UA-cam I am not a stranger. And I miss dearly the Louisiana cuisine. I taught my children how to eat crawfish. 😁
Have a blessed day.
Oh thats awesome!!
Wonderful to hear this about Mr. Calvin!
@@donitaforrest9064 Yes...he appears VERY sad in the film. I hope he's had a good life.
I've watched a lot of things on UA-cam (most poorly done), TV, theater, and in life in general. Very few times have I've been enthralled. I've been entertained, amused, scared, mad, and many other things. Enthralled and even a bit envious? I can't remember when that last happened to me. Thank you very much for sharing your story, your life.
***** I'd like a ride on the Mississippi. Not only would that be fun and interesting, but educational. A creole home would be nice also. It's like a forgotten land done there and I've been a couple times, so I loved it. I'll envy your trip.
so you enjoyed the telethon! LOLOL
Love Louisiana! Born and raised there... Such a beautiful place to live. Thanks for sharing your story❤
"If people hear that you are fixing a banquet every day, you will have company." - That is possibly one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.
im a grownass man and I was teary eyed watching this,im coming to the last chapters in "my story"and im planing to cash out all my "stuff"and hit the road.the bayou country on my list of pkaces in this great country I plan to visit,thank you for this beautiful view into your world and life.
I was glad to see your comment and only an hour ago!. Yes wake up America! Im getting ready to go off road myself things are getting ready to get pretty scary. Im so glad that I have the skills to survive out there where ever that may be but I know it will be somewhere a bit more hidden than I am now. Somewhere tiny or hidden maybe an earthship but I feel we are all gonna have to count on ourselves and the skills we hopefully have to make it through whats coming. Maybe Ill see you , Bless you and may God keep us All :)
+Laura Rosar I am in agreement with everything you said and god bless you and keep you safe,I hope we intersect some time also. :)
It's now 5 years later. Did you have the good fortune to go?
@@scpsoto1576 I hope they both did.
Idk if you still look at comments here but I'm wondering what it was like for you as far as pirates and hurricanes living on the Bayou? It's my dream to live on the Bayou.
A true story teller. As a writer myself I was lost in love of this story. Thank you
I'm a writer who has lived in NYC for 49 years but was born and raised in the bayous of Cameron Parish. The bayou is in the blood and will be in the blood forever. Honored to know the bayou.
I absolutely love the history that goes with the story. The commitment and passion between two people that made a dream into a reality!!!
You are still beautiful. And what a wonderful writer. You absolutely drew me in and captivated me. Thank you for such a personal story.
This is LIVING! This is following your soul in the path that you wish and not giving in to societal expectations. While it may not be for everyone, it was for this lady
and how fortunate she is to have followed her soul to exactly where she was suppose to be.... too bad many of us will never do this.
Howdy,
I agree. I'd consider myself blessed to live there. I'm trying desperately to move there soon.
That's the type of life and place for me.
I don't know but something bout the way she tells her story is just beautiful full of love and soul gives you a different better way a life could and can be lived if you choose!! She is beautiful inside and out I could listen to her story's all day
This is the most accurate depiction of life on the bayou as someone who has lived in the Atchafalya Basin my entire life… thank you so much these ARE my people
I've thumbed all across this country, first daughter was born in Lafayette. Louisiana has always had my heart, a true treasure. Thanks for sharing, got me thinking I need to go back to one of my first loves, Louisiana. Recommend all to go visit. God bless 😇🙏
This story touched me when I was an adolescent I never forgot it and so glad I found it on UA-cam alll these years later ❤
What an awesome video. Brought back some great memories. Growing up in Hialeah in the 60's I spent most of my summers and weekends in the Big Cyprus Swamp just enjoying and exploring the Everglades. I still go camping and exploring, but for some reason, being in the middle of Kansas just isn't the same. :-) Thank you for sharing.
She is absolutely beautiful
And I envy the life they led
I’m from Louisiana and deeply appreciate this!
CRIED & PRAYED, I LOVED IT, A MUST WATCH FEEL GOOD VID. THANK YOU FOR SHARING! GOD BLESS
Doug Janis watching this mad me cry
"She" was flat out friggin beautiful.. and SHE still IS! WOW what a peaceful vid.. your face is perfect for the camera. No doubt you could have maid a living in Hollywood.. I am glad the the river got to enjoy your beauty..
I love this. So much experience of life is done in the home. God blessed this man and this woman then I say a prayer that the lord has continued this family traditional
I watched this video probably 3 years ago and i thoroughly enjoyed it. I am 72 years old and i still had tears in my eyes watching this. Enjoy
One of the best videos I have seen on UA-cam.
Poor Calvin thought he had found paradise with the love of his life. Never, ever plan your life around a woman.
Or a man 😞
Works both ways...a man or a woman. Poor Calvin still has a VERY sad face in this documentary. Don't know if you noticed it. Can't blame Gwen, but she did up and leave him. I'm glad she found happiness, though.
I ran the Atchafalaya many a time, from Morgan City to the offshore rigs, and back, but always on a schedule. I always envied the ones who lived back off the main channel, and off the clock. I enjoyed the company of the Cajuns I worked with, manay of whom still lived by the old ways. I went from a kid to an adult there, too.
But in time off, I went back to Tampa, and later a small town in the swamps of North Florida.
This video catches the swamp very well, and also the young people who were trying all kinds of ways to live. Now we are seniors, and many of us still trying new ideas.
Thanks for a beautiful video, sharing a part of your life, and bringing back a forgotten part of my life..
Keep looking. It's still there, in the music in the local bars, in the stories of the old people, and in the backwaters of the swamp itself.
I'd start with a couple of big pieces of boudain, and go from there.
+tom jackson Nothing changed..Keeping it simple enjoying good food and living life and enjoying a cold beer with family and friend ..
tom jackson I
How wonderful it is to be young, strong, healthy, and fearless.
She looks so beautiful when she was young (like Kirsten Dunst I thought). Love the style of the seventies for the boat and for clothes they wore.
Calvin still looks wounded . Her leaving and cheating made the ending of this doc a little hard to watch
yes,...... I noticed that also. I felt sorry for him.
I agree. The worst part was her saying they drifted apart. No ma'am you cheated, bet money he never fully drifted apart. He would have been just fine hanging out in a tiny shack on the side of that river. He built that huge boat for her and her only. Try finding a man that would do that today. Cheaters destroy so much in their path. My whole outlook of this changed. I do commend her for being honest, but in the end she only cared about herself
@@robbyrobinson4500 Yea, her life was so beautiful, but then just so casually, cya bye.
Awomens are like that. Just toss us away like an old favorite sweater.
OMG!!!! there you are!!! i've always wondered where you ended up. i read your book. years ago. would loan it to friends, never got it back. would buy another...and another....they were as enrapt as i was. had to read it over and over. what an awesome experience for you. thank you so much for taking me along.
As a young boy, I spent a lot of time with a family that lived in the basin & raised 10 children. Some are still living & some are not. I have so many wonderful memories that are invaluable and I wish I could relive those happy times. I have seen the good, the bad & the ugly of what has happened to the basin. The worst thing that ever happened was the intrusion of the Corps of Engineers diverting waters that wanted to go their own way. These diversions ruined the hunting & fishing in the basin. I went out there a couple of years ago and had tears in my eyes when I left. I will never return.
I lived near the basin for almost 2 years. Some of the best people on earth can be found down on the bayou.
And some of the worst some people can be assholes when you start fishing on “their”bayou
One of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever seen....god bless you and thank you for sharing ❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful Story. I have a place too that I go back to where nothing changes. Everyone needs that.
I wish I had a place like that. I'm thinking of just buying "walk thru" property in the woods somewhere & building a tiny shed/home on it. Not a place to live , but to have a place that time doesn't change unlike everything else in this world
@@fancyfreesee1977 I'm so curious 4 years later. Did you buy it?
One of the most amazing places I've ever been! In 2010 my wife and I travelled from overseas to visit my sister in Texas. From there, we drove to New Orleans for some fun and on our way back to Dallas, I got the itch to explore something other than the tourist spots. we stopped and enquired at a roadside facility as to how we could explore the bayou. A lady told us to wait on the porch and 30 minutes later a gnarly old dude turned up in an old truck pulling an even older aluminium boat on a trailer. We could hardly understand a word he said due to his accent but he took us on a slow boat ride through the swamp for the next two hours. I recorded some of my best memories on my video camera that day.
Born in La but raised in MS. Lived on houseboat for the first twelve years of my life. Ours was not as nice as yours. You appear to be the first hippy lady. Good for you! Love this video.
I'm a native Houstonian, but some of my fondest memories are from south LA when I attended LSU. Gwen and I are the same age, and I remember some of the things she talked about during that era. I went to college with some kids who were raised in DeRidder, Mamou, Golden Meadow, Henderson, New Iberia. I remember driving from Houston to Baton Rouge BEFORE the Corps of Engineers built that big bridge across the Atchafalaya River. Great food in that area! During my LSU days, I remember when the campus put us on lockdown b/c of the shooting of MLK. They were afraid there would be riots in B.R. That seems like a lifetime ago. The people I met in B.R. were wonderful. Many of them still live in the area and in Crowley and Eunice. :)
Its a amazing all the time Calvin and yourself spent together u didnt fall in love. very cool story.
Scott Duyser it’s interesting how little control we have over our human emotions and whom we fall in love with
wow , how very cool to live like that in those days . i'm a child of the sixties and have older siblings your age and we all grew up on a farm in southwestern new jersey. corn fields and cedar swamps and of course the delaware river. i woud'nt trade those days for all the gold on earth. now in my mid5o's i;m planning a shanty boat for my retirement here in north carolina . what a wonderful way of life . oh , and your cute , then and now.........!
I agree she's still breathtaking in that "fairy" type way. Like a woods elf
CELTICFOXSTUDIO77777 Yes, I wish things were still like it was back then! Times and people have changed SOOO much!! I live in Louisiana on the Atchafalaya River but I didn't grow up here.We love to go on the Pearl River, 2 miles in the woods and stay on weekends but would love to live there all the time as it's so peaceful with fresh air too!! Hope you enjoy your retirement!!!
For those complaining about the fund raising, 2 words, fast forward. They've gotta make money to keep the lights on.
For those complaining about her leaving him. It kinda looked like their non marital relationship had run it's natural course. I've learned more about myself in the dissolution of relationships than I could have ever imagined. We should take that knowledge forward to become a more enriched person, no matter how much it sucks at the time. It appears from their "reunion" they did exactly that. I gotta say though, I thought it was going to be that she ran away with the photographer, his lens sure loved her so I figured he did too.
They lived their dream, not so we could live it vicariously through them...nevertheless we have.
Well done video. Thanks for the visions of what was, what could be or what could have been. Dreamscapes of the 70s.
He was her husband by common law. Not just some dude. And I’m sure she cheated with the photographer too. Stop making excuses for her, wrong is wrong.
I have really enjoyed this video very much! You are a very beautiful Lady, inside and out, then and now!! Such a sweet soul and great heart you have and I don't know you but it's obvious you are just a great person!! I am sure everyone that views this video will feel the same way!!
What a great person to leave her common law husband for a rich boat captain! Such a sweet soul and great heart on that woman!
Lady you were beautiful as a yong. women an you are still beautiful an lovely woman,i love your story we had a hose boat and love it. still whit the same lady 44 years later so mutch memory an happy est.
Great story until "We ran out of money and went to work on a tug boat and cheated on my boyfriend." 🤔
What a wonderful lady, I hope I’m half as wise as she is when I’m of that age, I’ve lived on a boat on a small navigable River for 18 months now and it’s a great life
I think about you two often, how lucky you two were to experience such a magical love, a precious, sweet, private love in Nature's bossom.
To be in love & make love in the precious Bayou. To be in love in the south.
We get older bit our hearts we are still young meeting good people and sharing life is great experience. A singer called Stuart Adamson had a song Big Country this video is exactly what he was singing about sadly he past a way some years ago but when I see films like this I always think of their music. The Band was also called Big Country.
love you story put tears in my eyes happy tears i rember 73 high waters i was like 5 or 6
Love hearing this story again! Thought of it so many times over the years.
Having experienced that area in Thibodaux, Morgan City, Houma area, let me say that one has to be rich to live the life. The Cajuns are truly blessed.
Father Time has come to ask me what I did with my life on this earth, and I have nothing but regrets of what could have been.
I’m 73 and are about to build a storage container home, myself. Get up and get moving!
It’s never too late!
I just stumbled on this and I am sure glad I did. What a great video. Thanks
VARY ENTERTAINING AND MAKES YOU WANT TO BE IN THE LOUISIANA SWAMPS FOR SHORE! THOUGHT BOUT IT MEANT A TIME BUT TIMES PAST ME BY AND THAT'S OVER NOW!
great story, great lifestyle......great video
How very blessed they were then to live that dream. If only we all could
We could... Just close the stock exchange,collapse the building, etc...but...would we???
Its happening soon.. bu design
@@saintb4753 Howdy,
I agree.
I'm trying to move to the area as soon as possible.
Just having a hard time finding simple, small basic as is houseboat, float house, small house, cabin or just about any thing habitable for one adult, possibly two in the future when I get married,a small dog and cat.
Only thing I see are houseboat rentals by the day that are way too fancy and expensive.
Just a humble guy that wants a humble peaceful life.
Any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks,
C.M.
Just remember the gators, snakes, and endless mosquitoes and bugs!
Loved the video, and the amazing house boat they built. I wish they would've explained or shown what ever happened to the house boat. Dying of curiosity as to what happened to the house boat.
I think Calvin still loves and misses her
How could he not...?😢
Very nice n brings back great memories. I hunted on and close to bayou chene, if this is where she is talking about n pictures look familiar. I gres up on Mermentau river water skiing, fishing n hunting all year at our camp n when I got older started fishing on the Atchafalya river n basin. I now live in Philippines n that is one thing I miss a lot n hope to go visit one day. God Bless n peace b w u all!!
Beautiful documentary. When the couple decided to go separate ways, what did they do with the houseboat?
I remember the first time I saw Pierre Part…I was in love. Even though I live in Indiana..I have maintained our long distance love affair! Part of my heart remains in the basin!
Wonderful story. I live a stones throw away from the place of this story.
I so enjoyed this! Excellently produced and filmed! My father came home from WW2, married my mother and lived on a houseboat when first married. I was able to share this with them before they both passed into Glory. While watching with them it brought many heart warming memories to them and opened up a chapter of their lives I'd heard very little about! Many thanks for sharing this. Is there a DVD available for purchase? I would enjoy sharing this with my son and daughter while telling more of their grandparents life story! Again, many thanks!
Great video with such a meaningful story in the lives of so many of us.
Omg I love Gwen so much she’s probably my favorite person on earthhh I know her in real life and own her horse delta j 😁
This is amazing, Louisiana is so beautiful and these folks are true Americans
Wow! Calvin looks still looks broken after all these years. It blows my mind that a woman can have a fairy tale life and will still cheat.
true
Women are heartless.
I’m not so sure she cheated on him matey, sounded like they both had different paths to go down.
You can’t control falling in love with someone else. She said she gave it a shot for another year before breaking up with him, but it’s true that it seems sad. Like he didn’t move on to the same happiness she did. Or maybe he’s just shy and that’s why we get that vibe from him.
@@shauncummings2361 uhh… from her version they “went separate paths”, we don’t get his. Kinda funny how it’s all about her when it was his idea in the first place. And “separate paths”… What that actually means is he wanted to stay there and she found her a captain making big money and opted to leave her husband (by common law) for higher social status. It’s absolutely disgusting.
Loved the book and had to watch the documentary!
wow, I can't help but notice that Calvin looks heartbroken still
yes.... I noticed that also. Hurt, sometimes lasts a lifetime.
Them hoes ain't loyal
Mam I’m sure you don’t look at these comments but just in case I want to thank you for sharing you wonderful life with us.
You are such a pleasant narrator. I thought id you when you were talking about your grandma when she would tell you stories. It reminded you of what heaven would be like??? Well, thats what you did for me and im sure many, many others. Such a pleasure.
What ever happened to the house boat?
Tis story, e settings, e experience they hold, r all so beautifully sentimental n poignantly romantic. E faraway look in e lady's eye were so sensual it totally charmed me..
What a beautiful woman. Looks like it was a beautiful life too.
You look better
I would want to build a life like this with someone, but it's disheartening when that "someone" doesn't want to put forth the effort! All my dreams are gone with the wind working and slaving for the corporate man's dream; not mine! 😥
What a beautiful story told by a beautiful calming voice.
I SO ENJOYED IN TO MANY WAYS TO LIST AND I SHARED...THANK YOU!
That this was during fundraising is unfortunate. But what a great tale!
So well done. Love is hard to hold on to...maybe impossible.
Such a beautiful person and story. What ever happened to the barge with the house on it? That would be a great museum piece. Take it to the Wooden Boat Festival in Madisonville, LA, October 14 and 15, 2017. Thank you, Gwen !!
I enjoyed the story up until you fell in love with someone else. I guess Calvin really didn't have much choice but to find love elsewhere. I suppose it's true, all good things come to a end.
Loved the story
SO inspiring.
Affluent Americans, we make things far too complicated.
What an outstanding video. Halfway through the story, I was thinking I should comment about how beautiful this woman is and was, how Calvin and her had such a wonderful life. Then she goes to work on some boat, and chooses to allow herself to fall in lust with someone else. The reunion 30+ years later was painful to watch because I sympathize with Calvin. Yes he moved on too, but I was expecting this to end with them still together. A long happy marriage. Maybe Calvin had passed away, but she was still surviving with all they had learned and built together. But no. F*@k.
That was Awesome and I was Proud to be a Doodlebugger and worked in the swamp, it felt like Home!
my god you were a stunning young lady
she is still pretty stunning now.
. . . you killed that guy when you made him go back . . .
I meet Gwen and Calvin years ago... and it was every bit as beautiful as these pictures show
Yep, Bayou life is heaven. I miss my camp on Bayou Signet
I remember these folks when I used to work at Fred Parnells the Sports Shop.
What an amazing life! I adore this documentary. it gives me hope!
I grew up near where they had their houseboat. I remember passing by there on the school bus every morning.
During this time the Vietnam era In the early 70s and late sixties... I'm sure they were many people living in the swamps... out-of-the-way places.
It certainly catches the swamp very well and I really loved their story but I could've done without the fundraising! Fortunatly you can skip those parts!!
This hit me gut deep! What a beautiful woman then and now. What a beautiful life.
Wow, back in time when people let you live your life, and even supported you with gifts or trade..... do that now, and someone would be making pissy calls to local "authorities" saying how you are hurting the environment and that you need to be stopped.
Do u miss Calvin u were lucky I miss the whole thang n I ain't been there but I grew up in Tennessee n the Cumberland river as a kid so I've seen some o this
Lovely place, lovely times- just wondering if you had to make sure the house boat was up to council regulation: ie code of compliance etc.
Lol what council? What regulation?
Also notice how they don’t talk about where all their poop went. Hahaha right into the water they bathed in I’m sure!
Wow, I think I'm in love!
What a wonderful life. Thanks for sharing it.
There isn't anything similar to Cajun Country and Cajun culture.. Bayou Country, Morgan City, Houma, Thibodaux all the little towns and back roads in between the gulf and south of Baton Rouge. I lived there from the early 80s to mid late 80s... Cajun music couples dancing in the streets or Plaza, you just don't see this in other uptight areas of the u.s... I know it's changed... and may not ever be the same as when I was there in the 80's... Gwen has such a way with words so pure and simple, and can feel the words and not only hear what she is saying.
“Honey, wear sunscreen”. Did we even know what sunscreen was when we kids? I certainly did not but wish I’d had that exact advice! Thanks for sharing this story!
Wow. This is so beautiful.
You're more beautiful now, your experience was
Incredible.