“Mommy, I don't know where they came from?” this 12-year-old 'Nawlins Uptowner hesitantly first told his Mom.
“You shouldn't be looking at those kids of magazines!” my late Mom blurted out about those girly pics that she found up on the back wall of the garage “clubhouse” my older brother, David, and I had secretly set up - I used to sometimes see these publications at the Tulane University Barber Shop where I would occasionally get a trim with my late Daddy, who never got that kind of stuff.
Mommy gave us brothers both some backside pops!
I used to find all kinds of things people would throw out for garbage as a kid near Broadway and Spruce where we lived, and adjacent to Audubon Street and sometimes especially on the ritzy, Audubon Blvd., as people would put out many varied items.
Later that day, after my conscious bothered me, I admitted to Mom that those old magazines with a centerfold had been put out by Mr. Ronnie, a bachelor who lived by the old Edmond's Grocery on Audubon St. and Cohn.
Mom discovered those pics in the Clubhouse after David and I had gotten in trouble the night before and had gotten a good whipping from Daddy.
Andres N. Horcasitas, Jr. (Dad) and Mercedes Kleinpeter Horcasitas marriage 0ct. 16 1955, New Orleans.
David and I had had a sleepover with Gary and some other older teens whom we accompanied after hours on a walk to Newcomb Blvd., where they met up to just chat with some girls they knew at Margaret's house.
Well on the way home around 2:30 AM on Broadway, with little traffic insight, but still being careful not to get caught after curfew, we get stopped by some NOPD dudes and were taken home awaking a Dad and Mom.
Suffice it to say that David and I hugged the wall on our perspective bunk bed spots to avoid this rear belt swiping as much as possible – Dad never had to resort to that again for Mommy!
Not long after these encounters, I did go to confess my waywardness to the Fr. Boggs at Holy Name of Jesus; Mom was glad to know this prodigal son had done this.
My buddy, Scott, also once shared about a lesson he learned from his Mom and Dad when coincidentally, he was confronted about his own backsliding situation just as the “Your Mother Should Know” song from the Beatles “Magical Mystery Tour was being played on his turntable!
And while I may chuckle at times reminiscing stories like this with buddies and family, Mom did truly teach me many great lessons about respecting her true beauty and that of other women like my own wife and daughter.
As a Catholic, I still have a great devotion to Mother Mary …
Happy Mother's Day to all...
