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Ci et Ca Avec Belle

A NEW MONTH ........
This month of October makes us realize the year is rapidly coming to an end. Thanksgiving and Christmas are getting closer, and then the new year of 2016 will be a reality. It is said that “time flies when you are having fun”! We guess we must be having lots of fun since it seems that the time is flying by and we really don’t get much accomplished these days. October will be a busy month with many things happening. For some, the cooler weather will be a welcomed relief from the recent heat temps, and yet for others, like us, it will be a time to begin to dread COLD weather in the months ahead.
This month will be filled with exciting football games from the city leagues for youngsters, to the local schools, our loved universities and our favorite pro teams. For football fans, these events will fill many hours of fun as they watch and support the teams of their choice. In addition, many schools, churches, local organizations will be holding events that are important to them and to our community. Please watch, read and listen to the many things happening in our great city and plan to attend and or support them in every way.
October is also a month filled with activities and opportunities to participate in the many, many festivals happening in the area. There are many and one can select the ones that have fun and educational things happening that are of interest to them and to the family. This time is also one to celebrate Columbus Day, Bosses Day, Mother-in-Law Day, and Sweetest Day which we do not know what or why, but celebrate it in whatever way you like. This month is a time to get your costumes ready, lots of trick or treat surprises, your pumpkins carved and yard/house decorated. It will be Halloween, one of our favorite holidays. So get ready and enjoy this fun time for children and adults both. Sit back and enjoy this exciting month in any way that you would like.

MEMORIES OF SEPTEMBER.....
We are still filled with happy memories of the past month. Even though we look ahead, we sit and remember the fun of the events of September. Many great football games, homecomings, family reunions and no hurricanes highlighted this time. We especially loved the homecoming at Rayne High School since we were a graduate of the Class of 1948 and returned to teach there for eight years before leaving to return to school for a counseling degree. Our class was the last of 11 grades of school before graduation. The next year had only a few students that needed additional credits to graduate. The classes after that had to go 12 years to graduate. Many of our friends were upset since we were through with high school and although most of us were the same age, they had to go another year.
The reception in the library with the alumns and the honored classes of 1945, and all classes ending in “5” was really well attended and provided a wonderful opportunity to visit and recall past years. We congratulate the administration, the librarian, the students and all that worked and made the morning so successful. We were very happy that our brother, Bob Craig and his family were able to attend. He was the captain of the state championship six man football team and there were three other members of the class attending also. They were Lester Hebert of Lafayette, Glen Laurent of Rayne, and Conerly Estes of Houston, TX. It was a great time for them and a long over due reunion for it had been many years since they had been together. Because of the age and health of some of these classmates, it may be the last time this wonderful group can get together at a homecoming event. However, they will still be able to visit with one another here at our home or in Baton Rouge.
That fun time was just the beginning of a really happy time for us. We were excited to be invited to the Class of 1965 reunion last weekend. Thanks to Helen Boudreaux, our sweet friend that drives us, we were able to make it for a couple of hours. It was great to see these dear former students, to visit with them, and to catch up on news of them since those high school years. It was wonderful teaching them and remaining friends with them in their adult years. They were a very special class, one of the best of all my years of teaching, and for them to think of us and remembering those school years to invite us was very meaningful for us. We also enjoyed a visit with Ms. Willie Etta Servat, one of their favorite teachers who also was invited to be their guest at the reunion. She is amazing. She is 92, and doesn’t look it, and even continues to drive. Ms. Servat was an outstanding teacher and loved by all of her students, who also enjoyed visiting with her. They informed her that she had instilled in them an interest and love of history, as well as other qualities which shaped their lives. However, there was a sad time in the evening as we looked at the pictures of the members of the class that are no longer here and we remembered them and their participation in many school and class activities through their high school years and missed them. Thanks class of 1965 for the memories and for remembering us.

MORE HAPPY MEMORIES......
We have enjoyed renewing friendships with dear Merlin and Paola Hoffpauir. Merlin is from Rayne and he and his dear wife have worked for many years in and have retired there in Sicily and love it. They still have family and ties here in Rayne and love and miss our wonderful city. We always learned much about them and their beautiful home. However, for a time, we did not hear from them and we became worried since we had been having wonderful communications with them. We were very happy to receive a phone call from them recently giving us an update on reasons for not staying in touch. And it was reassuring to know that they are doing all right. Merlin had a health issue from which he is still recovering, but is doing much, much better.
We were able to catch up on their news, and for Merlin to comment on the things we had in last month’s Avec about our little brother, Dickie Boy. He and one of his brothers played with Dickie whenever we went to his house and visited with his mother. They were playing with him on the school ground where the stadium is now located when, little Dickie wanted to cross the street to put his Army hat in the car. It was at that time that Dickie was hit by a car and Merlin had to come into the house to tell us that he was hit. Their ties to us were always strong, but were made even stronger with their experiences on that day.
The events of that day are etched in our brain and our memory is filled with every minute of that terrible time. Merlin and his family became even more important to us then, and now since there are very few people still living that were there during this time, and they were there during the actual horrible event. His mom and dad were involved in all of the happenings that morning, from his dad carrying little Dickie and holding him while our grandmother rushed him to the hospital. His mom, Merlin and his brother sitting with us on the steps in shock and crying as we waited for news from our grandmother who had to return to pick us up after our mother got to the hospital. We were ten years old and Dickie was eight and yet we remember every detail of that time. That day is also a bitter memory for Merlin having been a part of the drama of the accident. Dickie never regained consciousness, although he could hear when spoken to. He lived two weeks before the swelling in his dear little brain caused his death. What a different story it might have been if the medical technology of today was available then! There were no IV’s no x-rays, no nothing... and when Dickie was fed both or soft food, at times we would go in and feed him and tell him to swallow and he would. Our mother never left the hospital during that time...and when she did her hair was turning gray. The rest is history recorded in our brain.
We could write a book about that time. The many, many friends and even people that we did not know were always near and helping in any way during that time. They were there for days, months and even years to support the family in this tragic loss. These many kindnesses reinforced to us and to others, the love and caring of our community and has been one of many reasons that we remain in this special place.
When talking with Merlin, he asked that we write about Dickie Boy. Even before he was hit and killed, everyone in town knew and loved him! His sweet angelic face was filled with love for everyone. He spoke with a slight lisp which sounded somewhat like baby talk, but which made him even more special to everyone. From the time he was very small, he would want to call mother on the phone, the operator knew his voice and never asked for a number, she would connect him to the Tribune. However, if mother was not in the office, the operator would call around until she found her and connect Dickie with her. He was loved by old and young alike. It is difficult to describe him! One had to know him as Merlin did also. Family and friends always said that little Dickie was an angel...and after we lost him, everyone said that he was an angel on loan to us for awhile before God wanted him home with Him again. Although we were ten years old, this tragic event changed our lives forever. Merlin, we hope that this writing is the something that you requested us to do. There are only a few people still living today that knew Dickie Boy, and you are the only other person with us at your home when this terrible accident occurred. We thank you for your wonderful, yet sad, memories of Dickie and your friendship through the years.

MORE NEWS FROM SICILY...
It was wonderful to catch up on the news with Merlin and Paola and the happenings in their lives, and we want to share some with you all. Merlin certainly is an inspiration to anyone who knows him. For instance, he and Paola worked for 48 years at the U.S. Air Saigonella (hope we spelled it correctly Merlin) and retired together from there. It was very interesting to learn that there is a building on the base named the “Hoffpauir” building in honor of his years and contributions while working there. They have had a fascinating life including travels and adventures in and around the beautiful area in which they live. From their descriptions and the pictures from the books that they sent to us, it seems as though it is in the middle of paradise! It is an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea across the straits from Italy. The flowers, the vegetation, the trees, everything is really a beautiful place and a popular tourist destination. It does have an active volcano on part of the island, Mt. Etna, which has also become a tourist site for visitors.
Merlin has family ties with two brothers in the area. Eddie and his family reside in Rayne while Horace and his family live in Duson. He keeps up with our community through them and through the Tribune which they receive and read each week. We were pleased to know that he reads and enjoys our Avec each month! We teased him and said that we didn’t know that we are an “international publication” now. Merlin and Paola, we appreciate you two more than you know and enjoy hearing and keeping up with ya’ll. We hope that before long you will be able to travel back here for a visit with family and your many friends. It would be great for all of us. We pray that it might become a reality before too long.

LITTLE OF THIS AND THAT.....
..........The Sisters of A & O are planning an important event on Saturday, Oct. 24th. It will be their 4th Annual breast cancer March/fun day beginning at 10 am at the Depot and ending at the Green Room of the Civic Center. It is free and everyone is invited to participate and support this worthwhile program! If unable to attend, one can donate to the organization.
..........The Chamber of Commerce will hold the Rayne Farmers Market on October 10th from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be held under the Frog Festival Pavilion on the Frog Festival grounds. The market will feature home grown fruit and veggies, as well as home made arts and crafts. This will be a great opportunity for buying fresh items, as well as supporting the local farmers. Instead of having to go out of town to attend a farmers market, it will be great to have one here in town. We hope that you will plan to attend and enjoy the freshest of the fresh items!
..........We lose track of time, however, we saw an article in the Baton Rouge paper that was of interest and we wanted to comment on it. There was a picture and story about St. Amand High School and some of it’s staff. Scott Arceneaux, athletic trainer there, also teaches students in career and technical training programs as well as mentors interns from L.S.U. and Southeastern University. Scott is Nationally certified, and State Licensed, and has a state teaching certificate. He is one of five trainers from Ascension Parish working in their schools. Congratulations Scott for this recognition and for the outstanding work that you do with young people. We join your parents, Linda and John Arceneaux, in their pride of you and your accomplishments.
..........September marked the 115th anniversary of the Great Galveston hurricane that destroyed the island and a loss of lives between 6,000 to 12,000 people. Some of the Craig family resided there and experienced that terrible storm. A great grandmother survived by holding on and floating with her feather mattress. Many were not that fortunate. That mattress became a family “heirloom” and later was made into pillows for the family. Our dad’s sister, Fay Craig Milligan, was given one of the pillows and it was a treasured part of her children’s possessions after her death. It was one of the worse ever; however, there was no television or news organizations to adequately cover that tragic event. It is something that we think about because of the family ties to that tragedy.
..........This time marks the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Rita which did much damage to our state and East Texas. Cameron and that area along the coast were almost completely destroyed and changed the lives of all that resided in that part of our state. The pictures recently television clearly show the devastation a week after the storm and its recovery as of today. The people of Cameron held an anniversary ceremony remembering that terrible storm and to pray for all that suffered through that ordeal. The program also celebrated the brave residents who returned and rebuilt and continue their lives in their loved community. Our city was not spared in the storm since we were on the right quantrant of the storm which always has much damage also. However, we were fortunate that even though there was problems through the town, we were spared the water surge that Cameron suffered with. We pray that this hurricane season will not be filled with any storms this year.
..........Best wishes to the new pastors at the Abundant Life church. We thank former pastor, Melvin Finley, for the years spent here as the church grew and for the spiritual guidance he gave to the members of his congregation. We join in with your loved church members in wishing you “God’s Speed” as you begin a new journey in your life. We know that your sons will continue the work that you did for those years and that they will be successful in meeting the needs of the church and keeping it progressing as you did in the past. God be with you all.
..........We are saddened by the news of the passing of Mike Castille. He was a wonderful man with a skill that helped many, including us. When he could not perform the work needed for his profession, he would wait in the car while his dear son did the work needed. We enjoyed visiting with him during that time. Mike was a very special and kind man. Through the years whenever we had a problem, if we called he would be there to help us right away regardless of his tight work schedule. Mike did this for us; however, he did this for everyone that needed help! He was a true friend to so many and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his dear wife and his family for God to bless them and give them the support they need during this sad time. Rest in peace, Mike...and may God bless and be with you forever.

In closing......
It is with a full heart and much appreciation that we close out the month of September and look forward to the new month of October. We feel blessed with the many friends and loved ones that make our life very special. Without the love and support from you, it would be a difficult time for us. We appreciate the prayers for us, for our dear family...Laura and Bo and their children and grandchildren. We in turn keep all in our prayers and know that God is always near and keeps us all in his care. We are aware that we wrote much about our little brother this month. However, we hope that you will know that reconnecting with dear Merlin, the only participant left with us from that terrible day at his home resulted in memories for him and for us, and sharing them helped to soothe those sad times. Also, for our dear brother, Bob, who suffered through that loss of his little brother, we hope that this will help him to remember, yet know that God knows best and took our sweet angel, although he is always with us. After this loss, Bob took over seeing about us...through the years he took us with him on most of his activities and his friends either put up with us or they were not his friends. For that reason, most of his friends still call us “brat”, but with affection.
This new month holds many adventures ahead for everyone. We pray that it will be filled with fun, adventures, good health, friends, family and most of all lots of love. We appreciate each of you and look forward to seeing and/or visiting with you via the paper. You are important to us ! Love and blessings

Until next time..............................adios, au revoir, auf wiedersehen until we meet again.

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