GOODBYE COOKBOOKS

Cake mixes were "in"!  Anyone could successfully bake a cake with little cooking knowledge - even two girls in grade school who were unable to identify a rotatry beater.  Plenty of sugar was thought necessary to provide energy and physical fitness.

FLOWER POWER

People were known to talk to their flowers and my grandmother was not an exception.  She grew flowers in abundance, was a nationally acredited flower judge and President of the Baton Rouge Garden Club.  The society section editor of The Morning Advocate phoned one summer day, learned Mamma's two granddaughters from Texas were visiting and sent a photographer to record the occasion.  Mamma curled my hair using rags.

NEW SCHOOL - OLD JALOPY

Seventh grade began at Dick Dowling Junior High in Beaumont, TX.  On that first day of school, I wondered what my classmates would be like since we had just moved and I didn't know even one person.  The apprehension was definitely increased when Daddy drove me to the school's front entrance in our not-so-spiffy vehicle. 

SIMPLE COSTUMES

One night of bliss - eating as much candy as we wanted - wearing costumes that were thrown together at the last minute - trick-or-treating in neighborhoods without parents since it was considered a safe outing - and sometimes being invited inside a home to sing a song or do a jig before we were rewarded with a treat. 

CATFISH, A REAL SOUTHERN DELICACY

Even though catfish eat from the bottoms of lakes, ponds and rivers, and are considered scum fish by many gourmands, a Southern fish fry featuring catfish (dredged in a mixture of 1/2 cornmeal and 1/2 flour before frying crispy brown), hush puppies and cole slaw was (and continues to be) a mouth-watering event.

EARLY LISTENING DEVICE

I thought I heard the ocean beckoning from lands far away, and wondered what other mysteries my future held.

BACKYARD CARNIVAL

My sister and I spent many summer hours planning and implementing our very own backyard carnival featuring clowns, games and exotic animals.  The whole neighborhood was invited.  A huge Texas thunderstorm appeared and the exotic animals (dogs, lizards, frogs) escaped, the cable (clothesline) holding up our grand tent (army blanket) broke, and everyone ran home, including the ringmaster (neighborhood boy).  It was an exciting disaster!