Hmmm…Remembering That First Date at Magnolia Beach

March 18, 2011 0 Comments

Editor’s Note: Last February, the Central City News ran a story on how Valentine’s Day brings back romantic memories. In Central, those memories often involve Magnolia Beach. Afterwards, we received the following letter…

BY TOM WOODS, Special to the Central City News

Dear Mr. Woody Jenkins,

I saw the story about Magnolia Beach, and I have my own story about Magnolia Beach.

My family had moved to Baton Rouge while I was in the Navy in 1951. While I was on leave, my older sister Fran arranged for me to have a blind date and go on a picnic. I wasn’t too happy about a blind date, but Fran assured me that she was very cute.

On the way out to the girl’s house, Fran asked me not to embarrass her by getting fresh with the girl. Fran said that the girl — Hildamae Lesage — was only 17, a senior in high school and very shy.

The admonition changed my life forever. I made up my mind to show Fran what a lover the Navy had made me. So I was planning to make mad love to this girl from the start. After the introductions, I was more than willing to work my plan. Fran had told the truth — Hildamae was a doll. She had long brown hair, a nice figure, and a very sweet smile. This was going to be fun, I thought.

Six of us went on this picnic to Magnolia Beach. They were my sister Fran and her boyfriend; Hildamae’s cousin Tick and his wife, Hildamae, and me.

We spread a blanket out on the sand. We ate, swam, and played cards on the blanket. Hildamae and I were partners in Canasta. I suggested making it more interesting with partners kissing when they got a Canasta book down.

Hildamae gave me a look that said, “Oh, yeah? Just try it, mister!”

I didn’t know it then, but Hildamae was — and still is — very smart. She was to be Central High’s 1952 valedictorian and was also a very good card player.

The first time she laid a Canasta book down, I leapt across the blanket and laid a big kiss on her.

But, guess what? She didn’t slap me on the face or run to the car. Fran was so surprised at Hildamae that she almost choked!

Hildamae just kept on making books, and I just kept jumping across the blanket and kissing her.

It didn’t take long before she was meeting me halfway — in the middle of the blanket, rolling around on the blanket, messing up the cards! I think the other couples were throwing the game just to see the fireworks!

That was on Sunday afternoon.

I asked her to marry me on a Tuesday night two days later! That shy little country girl said, “Yes!” without hesitation. I had to return to my Navy duty in Korea on the next Friday.

One year later, I got a 30-day leave, came home, and we got married in the St. Francis Church, now St. Alphonsus, on Frenchtown Road, just down the road from our present home. It has been 57 years now… and we don’t remember how to play Canasta, but we still know how to kiss! And sister Fran is still impressed!