Anna Monica / L’Observateur / October 4, 2000

When nephew Wayne Stein Jr., first left home to begin college life inLafayette, I thought his parents, Wayne and Maria, would have to forget about buying groceries or paying bills. They had humongous telephone bills topay. It seems that my darling nephew who “couldn’t wait to get out of here,”just couldn’t keep his hands off of his contacts “at home.” That “home,” itseems, was the entire St. John Parish, or should I say just about all the kidshe had known while in high school.

As I understand it this is pretty much the norm for our college kids. It justmakes me think that parents in St. John Parish have something else to begrateful for, in addition to having their offspring continuing their education.

Young people in our parish seem to have a penchant for staying close to one another. That speaks well for our community and the way our kids are raisedlocally, it seems. They continue a closeness that obviously begins in school,even if they don’t attend the same school.

Many college students today forsake dormitories, opting for their own apartments. They usually manage to team up with other students to shareexpenses. It’s not unusual to fit four in a two-bedroom apartment. For thegirls, that can be inconvenient, considering the time it takes for us girls to use the bathroom for hair and makeup. For the boys, it’s no big deal.Getting back to chumminess of the students, the other day my tennis friend, Carol Vicknair of LaPlace, was talking about some of the St. Charles gang ather daughter Erin’s apartment. They were keeping things lively by poppingcorn in the kitchen while others were struggling to study. The reality was,they enjoyed it! Then, as Wayne Jr. told his mom the other day, he had”almost all of St. John Parish” at his apartment. Among the friends wereCasey and Blake Duhe, Jonathan Luminais, Travis Mire and Sean Delaneuville.

It was before a football game and of course, the youngsters congregated just as they would have at home.

My nephew and Wayne’s cousin, Nicholas, lives with Wayne and other roommates, Cary Fonseca and Mike Kinler of Hahnville. The boys pool theirfood for all to share, with Cary doing most of the cooking. Those of you whohave youngsters in college know, as Wayne, Sr. and Maria do, that yourchildren love it when you visit. In fact, that’s when they give you the privilegeof taking them shopping, especially at the grocery store. That way they getto keep their money while you spend yours to stock their pantry. Maria hasbought enough frozen food that microwaves in a hurry to sink a ship. Then,on that same visit, of course, you take your college student out to eat and wonder where they put it all, especially since you’re paying. Your studentsare already contemplating your next visit before you leave. After all, youexpect them to be smart since you are sending them to college, don’t you? Amanda Montegut of LaPlace, an LSU student, was thoughtful, though, when she invited parents and friends to her place for a barbecue before the LSU game last Saturday. It was a relief to her when dad, Dr. Christy, agreed to goout and purchase a barbecue grill and charcoal, which, coincidentally Amanda didn’t have. Mom Linda had an easier job as her daughter’s guest since sheonly had to bring several desserts. The high point was that Amanda wantedher parents there! Cory LaBorde, Charlie and Madelyn’s daughter, loves coming back to her home from college in Mississippi. My nephews, Matthew and Ty, choose to commutefrom Southeastern and LSU Medical, respectively, every day.

It’s just the way so many of our local kids are attached to the home and to that which is familiar to them. They are lucky. So is our community.

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