Here's a story for readers entering their Golden Years:
"I went for a hearing test at the urging of my ENT physician," says Mike Boudreaux, of Bush.
"The audiologist said I could benefit from hearing aids. Either my hearing has been deteriorating, or all the people I associated with had begun mumbling the last couple of years.
"Recently I attended an alumni homecoming. I sat in the back of the church for Mass with my classmates, and noticed all the over-the-ear hearing aids on the gray-haired men in front of me.
"The priest mumbled through the whole ceremony. I guess by next year’s reunion I’ll have my own hearing aids. Maybe I’ll even learn something from the sermon."
Political lesson
"I don’t always trust political polls," says Dan J. Self, of Geismar.
"My opponent, when I was nominated for class president in ninth grade, was Ruth Ann, most popular girl in our class.
"The winner would be president; the other nominee would be vice president.
"My 'pollster' friends assured me I would be a shoo-in for president. I decided I would vote for my opponent to gain her favor when I became president.
"By just one vote, I won the office of…vice president!"
Memorial memory
"Redevelopment of Memorial Stadium in Baton Rouge brought back lots of memories," says Linda Hughes Whitman, of Denham Springs.
"My earliest memory was my parents buying our Christmas trees there.
"And of course Baton Rouge High football games.
"But one memory stands out. Momma sent me up Scenic Highway to pick up our clothes at Ace Cleaners. Coming back, I spotted a group of National Guard guys.
"They were there because of an emergency involving a barge full of chemicals that got away, causing the closure of the U.S. 190 bridge.
"I blew my horn at them and waved. Turns out my future husband, from Homer, was in that group. He was waving at his future wife and didn’t know it."
Which reminds me
When I was a cheerleader for Istrouma High, our fans always sat on the east side of Memorial Stadium, since Baton Rouge High and Catholic High had the west side, with the press box.
Years later I was on the east side watching my son Thomas (called "Pokey" by schoolmates) playing football for Zachary High against Catholic.
He was a reserve defensive back, not a star, so it was a big deal when he intercepted a pass late in the game.
I'd seen Billy Cannon and Jimmy Tayor on that field, but nothing was as thrilling as that moment.
Special People Dept.
- Charlene and Joe Enzone, of Slidell, celebrated their 56th anniversary Saturday, April 20. "We got married on my parents’ 30th anniversary. It was a double celebration! My husband and I performed our first dance to Stevie Wonder's 'More Today Than Yesterday.' Our second dance was my parents' wedding song, 'The Dipsy Doodle.'"
- Virgil and Alice Russell, of New Orleans, celebrated 56 years of marriage Saturday, April 20, at a NOLA Golf rugby game.
Cruel and usual
John Thibodeaux says, "In the 1950s, at Lake Arthur Elementary School, I remember terrible punishments bad kids endured:
"Having to hold books in each hand with arms outstretched sideways.
"Writing on the blackboard over and over, 'I will behave in class.'
"Being sent to the principal's office to sit facing him and explaining their behavior.
"I remember those punishments when my wife Fannie gives me those mean stares when I misbehave.