Trouble Comes in on Horseback and Leaves out on a Snail

By Gwendolyn Suarez-Carriere

This is the life of Gwen, a girl who was and still is determined to live life to its fullest. Her desires for a better life drove her to excel and surpass even her own expectations. Everyone can relate as she shares interesting tales, funny anecdotes, sound advice, and wise observations of the many relationships formed and maintained throughout her lifetime. Many attempt, but few achieve such a level of interest and staying power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 3, 2007
• ISBN: 9781477160077

Gwendolyn Suarez-Carriere

In Trouble Comes in on Horseback and Leaves Out on a Snail, Gwendolyn Suarez-Carriere—wife, mother, hell-raiser, and soul searcher—reminds us that the best lessons aren’t just experienced, they are embraced. From her days as the feisty youngster in New Orleans’s Seventh Ward to her trials as the older and wiser survivor of Hurricane Katrina, Gwen strings her pearls of wisdom into a necklace draped in triumph and lovely to behold. Funny, frank, and encouraging, these memoirs glide from the everyday to the extraordinary in an effortless ballet. When you are tired of your own pity party, look here to discover how true survivors are made.

Book preview

TROUBLE COMES

IN ON HORSEBACK

AND LEAVES OUT

ON A SNAIL

Memoir

by

Gwendolyn Suarez-Carriere

Copyright © 2007 by Gwendolyn Suarez-Carriere.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2007907805

ISBN:   Hardcover      978-1-4257-9461-3

             Softcover        978-1-4257-9460-6

             eBook             978-1-4771-6007-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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42701

Contents

Acknowledgements

Trouble

Mother

What’s In A Name?

Backstabbing

First Day At School

Smoking Is Cool

First Kiss

First Love

Hanging Out

My Father

Sisters

No College For Me

Work Is Hell

Marriage

What Is Love?

Having A Baby

Sunday Dinner

Sisters Of The Soul And Spirit

Trying To Be A Teacher

Who Am I?

The Family Crest

Terminal Illness And Death

Depression

Work, Work, Work

Is Old Age Great?

Our Trip To New York

Priorities

Moving On

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THIS BOOK IS dedicated to the memory of my mother, Emelda Fredericks-Suarez, 1918-1981. She was a housewife, factory worker, and child care provider. She was Mommee. Emelda Fredericks-Suarez will always be remembered for her strength, character, perseverance, patience, honesty, and sincerity. Family members, neighbors, parents, schoolteachers, and church members could depend on her wisdom, problem-solving skills, and capability. In time, no matter how great, she always resolved problems.

I would like to thank my husband, Enoch Jude Carriere, for his support and patience. Also my children—Sarita, Marla, and Conrad—who continued to encourage me and made positive suggestions that inspired me. Judith Bethea, friend and research specialist, was the first one to read the manuscript and provided helpful hints that gave me confidence. Betty Jacques-Francis—poet, teacher, and friend—read and critiqued the manuscript and gave valuable advice.

Also, thanks go to Diana Shelton-Love who managed to steer me in the right direction with her editorial suggestions.

Finally, thanks to Wayne Carriere, Karen Carriere, and Sukether Williams-Simmons, authors, whose encouragement and knowledge of publishing assisted in my decision making.

TROUBLE

EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT, traumatic, or devastating life experiences that can be described as trouble. The simplest annoyance to the most extensive crisis can be trouble to individuals exploring solutions to their dilemmas. Various troubling experiences have been a part of my life. They shaped the character and personality of the individual that I am today. What impact have these experiences had on my life? Well, what will always be remembered throughout the trials and tribulations of everyday living are the words of my mother, Emelda Fredericks-Suarez. She said, Always remember, trouble comes in on horseback and leaves out on a snail. With these words, she taught my siblings and me the significance of endurance, consequences, and faith. No matter the task, the trauma, or the emergency, with time, anything is possible; solutions can be reached, problems can be solved, and wounds can be healed. Throughout life, I have been a survivor because those words have been embedded to accommodate any situation that occurs.

These stories are my life’s memories. Perhaps they may not be the same as others recall, but they are the essence of why I never gave up, never gave in, and never ran away from trouble.

MOTHER

YOU ARE STANDING near this stand, radiant and beautiful. Your elegance is evident, like a model posing. You told me you had posed for this picture because you wanted to be a singer. I can envision you swinging to the music of a band, belting tunes you crooned to us as children. Like Ella Fitzgerald or Lena Horn, your hair is in that rolled bun you wear so well. You are singing a sensuous song. You are the vocalist of our family, and everyone enjoys you. When you sing with the radio blaring in the background, everyone takes notice. How unfortunate that you were not able to realize your dream of being a singer. Daddy said you were a mother and housewife, the epitome of our lives. And now you are gone.

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

A NAME IS the first awareness in a child’s existence of who he or she is. I love my name Gwen, but not Gwendolyn Nomita, which I thought was my given name. However, when getting married at the ripe old age of twenty, I learned that my birth certificate stated my name is Gwendolyn Monita Suarez. My name has history of my ancestry, but as a child I was teased because of its pronunciation. Therefore, it was embarrassing for me. I didn’t like my name.

My grandfather was from Spain. I never learned much about him because he committed suicide before I was born. The family never discussed him. His life was a big secret. The Spanish name Suarez is a banner of honor to me but caused trepidation when I started school.

Square-Ass was the name I was called by the kids. Plus, Nomita was No eat-ta, No meat-ta. Children can be cruel and made my name a singsong—Gwen Square-Ass, No eat-ta, No meat-ta. That lasted throughout my first years in grammar school. School was supposed to be a wonderful experience. My family said, You are attending a good Catholic school. Corpus Christi Catholic School is an excellent school in New Orleans. Its reputation was well-known throughout the Seventh Ward and the city. Yet at this school, my name caused me to be the butt of jokes and teasing.

Why me! I would ask myself. "Other people have names like Gonzales, LeCense, Byres, Mercadel, Coste, Garcia, and Dejoie. Aren’t these names different from the Smiths, Davises, and Jones