Hello My Friends,

I am glad to know that you're checking-in, My heart has been warmed by your interest and affirmation...thanks! Today's entry will summarize some of the interval between the time Trudy and I met and our courtship.

After the divine encounter at LSU-A in the Summer of 1969, there were a few chance encounters with Trudy and one other interesting coincidence. The coincidence occurred in the Fall semester when I took American History with Mr. Myrick. Mr. Myrick was a sharp, hip, personable professor who enjoyed a bit of repartee with various students that exhibited a bit of extroverted personality. I happened to be seated on the second row behind just such a student. She was a bit older than those of us who had become eligible for college because of our recent graduation from high school...in fact, this vivacious, super intelligent woman was probably old enough to be a mother for someone my age! Mr. Myrick instantly found her to be an eager participant in both his joshing and his earnest efforts to engage his students in the exercise of academic discipline. Though I didn't make the connection right away, I quickly learned from this repartee that Mr. Myrick loved to call on and hear from...Mrs. Benoit! Mrs. Benoit this, and Mrs. Benoit that! She was so quick with her wit and she was the student that "set the curve" in the exam scores. I was impressed! She kind of caught me off guard one day...weeks into the class...when she turned around to pass a class handout to me and she feigned surprise that I took the papers from her and she exclaimed: "I didn't know you were back there!" "Have you been sitting behind me this whole time?" Now, I had never spoken to her personally, I didn't know she was the mother of the girl of my dreams and I sure didn't know what to say after her comment...but, that was my first meeting with my "Mother-in-Law" to be!

Well, back to Trudy. Needless to say, this bombshell was at no loss for suitors and amazingly, I even found girls to date myself. So, even though I knew there was something special, something compelling about Trudy, we were yet a little more than a year from our first date. I recall one time that we happened to both be at the same movie, her with her date and me with my date, when we found ourselves walking out of the theater at the same time. I don't know what our dates thought when for about five minutes or so...they didn't exist, as we gave our total attention to each other!!

Perhaps the most coolest thing that happened during that interval, happened one Sunday morning. I was a member of the Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, and active in the College and Career Sunday School Class. The class met in a fairly large room off a courtyard area and each Sunday morning we would all be standing around and engaged in chit-chat type fellowship. One of those mornings in the late Spring, 1970, the door opened and one of the greeters ushered in this gorgeous blond girl whose sudden, unexpected appearance brought the entire room to a silence that was so profound that you could have heard a pin drop. Then this beauty beamed a one thousand watt smile that demonstrated an excited relief that said "Oh, good...I know someone!" as she quickly spotted me and headed right for me! Can I just tell you that at that moment I felt ten feet tall! Trudy again found me to be quite approachable and quite willing to guide her around the sprawling facilities of the church. When it was time for the congregational service, I was pleased to escort her to the Sanctuary and to meet her family. There, to my surprise was Mrs. Benoit, (I finally got the connection). Also, I met her dad, Arthur, her sister, Katy, and her brother, Carlos. And, just to make her feel comfortable as a first time guest in this new church environment, I was pleased to offer to sit next to her!

I remember one afternoon the next week when my mom and I were alone in the kitchen of our house on Clover Lane, I suddenly announced to her: "Mom, I'm going to get married!" My statement stunned her so much that she dropped the large spoon she was using to stir something on the stove and she turned to face me with her mouth agape...trying to say something...anything...but nothing was coming out! Then I said: "Oh, not anytime soon, I don't even know who, for sure...I just want you to know that someday, I want to be a husband and a father...so, someday, I am going to get married." Now, I did enjoy the dramatic effect, but I was expressing a sincere revelation to my mom. I had realized that I wasn't going to remain in adolescence and that I wanted a life of marriage and my own family. I was ready to get serious about my future.

Well, by and by, the Benoit family joined the church and I got to know them quite well during the next months. I discovered that Mrs. Benoit was planning to get a college degree and become a school teacher. Mr. Benoit was a dairyman, a seven day a week job. Katy was graduating from Rapides High School in LeCompte, Louisiana, and Carlos was an underclassman in that same high school. I knew, this family was some kinda special!

Well, the interesting interlude was nearing a close. Although, at the time, I just couldn't see how this was all going to come together. Trudy had a boyfriend, I was still dating. But still...there was that "something" that was there...I could tell.

As for me, I was no longer a student at LSU-A (a story for some other time) and I was working full-time for my Uncle Luke at the Ditch Witch Trencher Company. I was anxious about our country as the United States was embroiled in the Vietnam Conflict. My oldest brother, serving at that time as Major Jack N. Daniel, USMC, had been in combat in Vietnam, and I remember talking to him about enlisting in the Corps. He told me that he was proud to be a Marine and proud to have served our country...but that he and our brother, Jim (USN), had represented our family in this war and that rather than enlist, he would rather that I continued my education and keep close to Mom, Dad, and our little sister, Marcia. He didn't tell me not to enlist, nor did he suggest that he wouldn't be fully supportive...he simply wanted me to reconsider. Ultimately, as the war was winding down and the call for new recruits was lessening and the draft moved to a "lottery" approach, I followed his suggestion. My brother was a true American hero who bore a chest full of medals...and his compassionate concern for me, our parents and our sister was compelling. But for that conversation, I am sure I too, would have proudly worn the uniform of the USMC.

Well, I stayed at home, enrolled in the Louisiana Vocational and Technical College, and continued to ponder the future and how I might discover the path that would lead me to the one I would marry. In December, 1970, my best friend, Mickey, called me and excitedly shared some thrilling news...no more boyfriend for Trudy! He asked: "Are you interested?" Was I interested?!!!!! Was I interested?!!!!! Obviously he knew the answer and already he and some others had a plan in place.

Next time...the "surprise" first date.

Blessings,
Robert