Rose (Ann) Bergeron – Elementary Education, January 1965

Rose (Ann) Bergeron

January, 1965 – Elementary Education

            What a saga the USL years were!  Small town ‘Rose’ meeting many others of similar and varied backgrounds.  Somehow, within the ambiance of innocent youth of those days and stable tranquility of ole USL, we survived and thrived, although with adjustments along the way!

My first year I almost fell asleep on all my dates, (having been accustomed to “home” 10:30 pm curfews), while acclimating to midnight and 1:00 am curfews at “Progressive” USL.

Then there was the time when Irma Moreau (Spears) sneaked a whole bottle of Creme de Menthe into the dorm after a home pass, and the four of us “roomies” drank it all night!  We were amazed when the dorm mother came by for “lights out”, and commented on “How nice the room smelled.”

Of course, we all remember the hikes to ‘Little Abbeville’ in the faithful rains on steaming sidewalks, and the powdered eggs we were served for breakfast almost daily.

Dear USL majorettes and band members – I remember the long afternoon band practices, and even longer parades for Mardi Gras, Yambilee Festivals, Christmas parades, etc…

I remember how much we appreciated dear ole USL President Fletcher, who provided all of us cold drinks from his personal funds after a Yambilee parade because he felt sorry for us.  We had strutted and marched in stifling heat behind his motorcade for several miles during that long parade.

We recognized how gracious he and Mrs. Fletcher were, as well as Dean Agnes Roth, then Dean of Women, for welcoming us into their homes for teas and receptions.

A highlight of my USL years was being tapped into Vermilion Honor Society by Carol Phausser.   Carol, where are you?

Remember, Carol, when we were USL Kappa Delta Pi delegates to the national convention at Purdue University?  Dr. Louis Coussan, then KDP sponsor, drove us to Hammond to take the train?  (That was my first long trip).  We were the only delegates in Indiana who played in the snow when we got a chance!

I recall fondly, and frequently, my forever friend and former roomie, Sylvia Granger, who is currently a pediatrician in Aurora, Illinois.  We were separated for over thirty years, and over the past two years, we’ve had two occasions to meet and catch up with ourselves.  It was as though the intervening years disappeared!   That’s how it is with forever friends such as those made at good ole USL!

Autobiographical Update:

Immediately from USL, I entered Tulane University, completing an M.Ed. degree in Counseling and Guidance, May, 1966.

I married during the year I earned my Ph.D. in Psychology with a Clinical Specialty, became licensed the following year, with the last seven years in practice in New Orleans, full-time Mental Health Services at Medical Center of Louisiana (old Charity Hospital), and part-time private practice at my office on Carondelet Street.  Both “Works” have worked well, with locations convenient to each other and my apartment/home in the French Quarter.

French Quarter living has been convenient for me doing some things that I enjoy.  For example, during my first five years here I sang with St. Louis Cathedral Church and Concert choir.  (I am currently on “sabbatical”).

The cathedral has proved important to me as well, after learning that my French ancestors nine generations ago were married there, 2/20/1730!  This has qualified me for membership in The Society for the Founders of the City of New Orleans.

This year, I also completed required genealogical research and have become a proud member of New Orlean’s ‘Spirit of ’76 Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

The last arena of family heritage which I am currently pursuing is membership in ‘Society of the Cincinnati’ which is comprised of women whose American Revolutionary War ancestor held officer’s rank of Major and above.

I am blessed with excellent health (thus far), and work, play, rest, and do all things with enjoyable intensity and depth.

Away from the U.S.A. homefront, interests and travels have included traveling: (1) three weeks through five countries in Western Europe, planning my own itinerary (train travel in Europe is the way to go), including visiting five days with my maternal ancestral relatives in northern France; (2) two weeks in three countries in Central Europe as guest of a Polish colleague from LSU Medical School (I drove all over Poland in her father-in-law’s little Fiat!); and, (3) luxury Caribbean cruises (next scheduled for February, 1999).  The most current travel plan on the drawing board is Spring, ’99, possible trip to exotic Bahrain, the island jewel of the Arabian Sea, to sightsee, shop, and experience the mystique of the Middle East.

I still enjoy visiting with my dear lifelong “in touch” friends ( I wish I could find some of you out there since we’ve progressed through life), as well as dancing, sewing, music (piano, guitar, keyboard playing, singing), and aerobic exercising.

If you remember me, Phi Mu’s (I’m a lifetime member), majorettes, band members, organization members, dorm mates, and fellow classmates, please let me hear from you.

Take care and GOD BLESS YOU!

Rose Bergeron