Her family included eight siblings. Her oldest brother died at sea. I think the story she told me was that he was in the military. She is the only living sibling today.
My mother, Essie Richard Fruge, grew up in Eunice, on Mill Street. She is a 1947 graduate of Eunice High. She graduated in the 11th grade. At that time, there was no such thing as 12th grade. She graduated at the old Eunice High, where the Eunice Jr. High is today.
She named my oldest brother after her principal, C.A. Randall. Evidently, I’m thinking, she liked and admired her principal. I was named after her grandmother Myra.
She never knew her father, he died when she was 9 months-old. Her mother remarried. She had a younger step brother, the late Jessie LeJeune of Eunice.
She worked right away after high school graduation. She still remembers those days, and talks about them. She cannot remember, however, what she just ate for lunch. She worked as a secretary for May Brothers, a mill company.
She walked to school. I have her graduation ring in my jewelry box. Her family grew up poor. She had to borrow $10 from her neighbor to purchase her ring.
She met her future husband, Leighton Fruge, a couple of years after she graduated high school. Her first date was a blind date. They met at a dance hall in Eunice, with her mother accompanying her. She told me back in her dating days, girls were not allowed alone on a date.
Mom married my father on April 4, 1951. They had their first born in 1952, a daughter, who died at birth. My brother Randall (Randy) was born in 1957 and I was born in 1959.
My mom has dementia. She is a resident in an Opelousas nursing home for almost two years now. She seems, from all outward appearances, doing okay. Her mind of course is not, and never will be. When I visit with her, she talks about things I don’t understand. I’m guessing it all makes sense to her. I normally just agree with her. This seems to keep her happy.
For the past few weeks I reminded my momma of her birthday soon approaching. I asked her on different occasions, “Mom, how old will you turn? Her answer was always 100! My next question I asked her, “Mom, what year were you born?” Her answer was always correct, 1929.
I love my mother, admire her, and think and pray for her everyday.
Happy “90th” birthday Mom!