Class of 1963  ~  Paul Houchin


Hey Everybody,

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m feeling a little guilty about the lack of response that Mary’s been requesting from the ’63 class.  I, for one, do not consider myself a Scrooge, even though I am starting to look like old Ebenezer more every year.
I really like this partnership thing with the class of ’61, it just seems natural to me.  I guess it’s because, for us old northsiders in particular, all of the kids I hung with growing up either had a brother or sister two years older or we knew someone from that class.

Old Northsiders
Talk about a rogues gallery from that area of town:the Anderson’s, Towhead, Bingham, Irwin, Lay, the Whetstines, the Perry’s, the Priddy’s, the Poe’s (our pee section), I could go on and on; quite an array of individuals.  It was something right out of a Norman Rockwell painting growing up around there.
  • Sneaking over to Morgan Park to play baseball when we weren’t over at the old high school participating in Mr. Server’s summer program.  What a great guy to give up part of his summer to give our little ragtag bunch of misfits something to keep us out of trouble.
  • Going over to the high school and climbing up the fire emergency chutes so we slide back down.
  • Roaming the streets picking up coke bottles so we could take them to Sammy and Annabelle’s on Hurricane Street and trade them for baseball cards.  What a Life!
I’m reluctant to relive any Christmas memories because that makes me think of snow and ice and freezing weather, which is why I now live in Southeast Louisiana.  We were so poor that Christmas meant more family togetherness than material things -- a tradition that I try to keep with my family.
Speaking of family, permit me to brag a bit on my little clan.  My wife Debra (Franklin class of ’71 – yes, I have a younger woman) and I have two daughters and three grandsons, Ryan (Rambo to me) 11, Kyle (trouble to us all) 7, and our newest, Wade Davis (all of 6 weeks old and what a beautiful little boy).

My daughter Brandi’s husband, Ryker, is from South Carolina, an ex-marine firefighter, and a real Southern boy.  He named the boy after a South Carolina Civil War general (Wade) and Jefferson (Davis).  My dad used to say that he owed a debt to the devil and he was paid off in son-in-laws.  I was luckier, I can only hope that all fathers with daughters end up with son-in-laws like I have: a couple of good guys.
New Orleans
I can’t end this without saying a few words about the condition of the New Orleans area, in case anyone was wondering.  A large portion looks pretty much like it did before Katrina, including the French Quarter.  The hardest hit areas of flooding, including the Lakeview area where I work, looks pretty much like it did a month after.
Not many people coming back to rebuild; most of them waiting to settle up with the Road Home program, which is moving in typical governmental bureaucratic snail’s pace.  In spite of that, if anyone has been thinking about coming down, don’t let that stop you.  It’s still a beautiful city to visit, I sound like I’m on the Chamber of Commerce.  My place on the Northshore (Pearl River, LA) took a lot of wind and tree damage, but we’re slowly getting back to normal.  Seeing it now you’d think that only a minor hurricane blew through there; but it’s home: love bugs, mosquito’s, giant roaches, and massive humidity and all.

I’ll close this by saying that I’m really looking forward to next year’s 45th Reunion, it’s always so good to see everyone again.  I know I really look bored when I’m there; but seriously, I do enjoy being there together with you all.  Y’all take care!

Paul Houchin, FCHS Class of 1963


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to the Class of 1963 here.

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