When asked what he was giving up for Lent, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter laughed a long time. He finally admitted that he, too, was abstaining from chocolate. I ve got a sweet tooth. Besides, I m like everybody else in Louisiana, I like to eat. Thibodaux resident Kevin Hoffmann remembered one priest s view of Louisiana s cuisine on the Lenten diet of meatless Fridays.
Some people plan to abstain from certain activities rather than food.
Gibson resident Linda Bessom usually attends bingo once or twice a week, but during Lent she plans to skip the games and give the money to help the poor. Viola Vaccarella of Thibodaux will be working on her temper and relationships with others. Fellow Thibodaux resident Douglas Hall is also going to spend this season focusing on the spiritual. Gerald Michel, Terrebonne Parish District M School Board candidate, is following Hall s lead. Michel said he won t give up anything for Lent, because that s not exactly the idea of the season.