Jan Risher

1 week ago | nola.com | Jan Risher

When my husband asked if I’d watched the video he sent, I said no — I’d seen it, meant to and then forgot. “You should watch it,” he said. So, I did. He had sent a video on how basketball defense has evolved since the 1960s. It turns out, these small moments — even a video about the history of basketball defense — may matter more than we realize. Background: He has sat with me through enough basketball games to hear me go on and on about how I don’t understand how players get away with what they do.

2 weeks ago | theadvocate.com | Jan Risher

On any given Monday, the daily lunch special at Benoit's Country Meat Block in Addis is meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and dessert for $10.99, but these days, every plate lunch comes with a heaping side of John Foster pride. Located, as the crow flies, about a half mile from the Mississippi River, Benoit's Country Meat Block's roots are deep in Cajun Country.

2 weeks ago | nola.com | Margaret DeLaney |Margaret Delaney |Jan Risher

At age 8, Elizabeth Bennett was sick for two weeks. She lost weight. She couldn’t get off the sofa by herself. She missed school. Her family in Houma couldn’t tell what was wrong with her. The family doctor sent her to New Orleans for further tests. “My blood sugar was so high that they couldn't get a reading,” Bennett said. In November of 1969, Bennett was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. After her diagnosis, she stayed in the hospital for a week. “They were trying the strangest things,” Bennett said.

2 weeks ago | theadvocate.com | Jan Risher

Last October, when I started making a list of Louisiana adventures I could do for my Tuesday column (in its 30th iteration this week), "help write a song" was on the list. Jodi James jumped to the top of my mind because I connected with her music so much. I reached out and had the outing set up quickly. We met on a cold, rainy day back in early December at her home in Burnside. In one sense, the experience far exceeded my expectations. The act of collaborating creatively was a beautiful thing.

2 weeks ago | nola.com | Jan Risher

When asked, "What was the most embarrassing thing you've ever experienced?," I have a clear answer. A bit of background is required:In preparation for the 2009 Congrès Mondial Acadien, which was set to take place in New Brunswick, Canada, organizers invited a group of Louisiana journalists to make the trip up north for a week of festivities in 2008. The goal was for us to tell the people back home about the big event coming up.