The Marks Post: Four decades of memories

Date- July 29, 1982 - “BOY, Anthony Bennett Marks, born July 14 to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Anthony Marks, of Carencro, in the Opelousas General Hospital weighing 9 lbs.
His mother is the former Kathleen Ann Bennett, of Ville Platte.
Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Clayus Marks, of Arnaudville, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bennett, of Ville Platte.
Greatgrandmother is Mrs. Cora Guidroz, of Port Barre.”
This baby boy grew up to become your editor, and what a fun ride it has been.
My earliest memory is riding a little bicycle under our carport in Carencro and smashing my fingers against one of the columns. I also remember moments from attending Pre-K at Carencro Catholic before moving to Ville Platte and starting Kindergarten at Sacred Heart.
The first presidential election I remember is George Bush against Michael Dukakis in 1988. I still remember watching election returns at my grandparents’ house and crying when Dukakis lost.
Four years later, I remember the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. That was around the same time the whole family loaded into my parents’ van and took off for Gatlinburg. We rented a little chalet in the woods that had a creek running in the back yard. Those summer family vacations were a common occurrence growing up and are memories that will always be treasured.
Probably my favorite birthday memory came in 1999. That year, we went on vacation to Washington, D.C. and stayed about 10 days. We drove around and saw Gettysburg, Appomattox Courthouse, and other sites along the way. We also went to Baltimore and took in an Orioles’ game against the Montreal Expos. My birthday fell during the trip. My mom bought me a cake, and we had a birthday party at a little park on the side of the road. I remember thinking if Air Force One landed nearby Bill Clinton could have some birthday cake.
A year later, I started college at LSU and still did not know what I wanted to do when I grew up. I had ideas, but nothing was concrete. College, though, was the best time of my life. I was at LSU during the Saban years and the latter Skip Bertman years. I still vividly remember where I was for the Bluegrass Miracle.
I came a long way after college. I started working for the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court’s Office scanning old criminal and civil records with Ralph LeDay in the warehouse. What was supposed to be a temporary job lasted 13 years until I came work full-time to the Ville Platte Gazette. I have come full circle, in a way, because the Gazette office is across the street from the warehouse where Ralph and I worked. God has a sense of humor, right.
Speaking of God, he has definitely blessed me along the way with many joys along the way. To name a few, I have seen three LSU football national championships (one in person), a Saints Super Bowl win, and best of all the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series since 1908.
I look forward to many other special moments like these and the many others in my life. I just hope it does not take another 108 years for the Cubs to win the World Series.
Oh, by the way, Happy Bastille Day!