All This Closeness

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First, I thank all of the exceptional Professors of English at the Academy of the Sacred Heart and at Manhattanville College who instilled in me a lifelong respect for the power of the written word to make a difference in a life and in the world.

I will be eternally grateful to Walker Percy and the Percy family. During his lifetime, Mr. Percy read a rough draft and commented that the work should have universal appeal when complete. The Percy family supported me generously in launching my first publication Visions of Splendor: Poems and Images of the Beyond in our Midst. The success of that first launch gave me the foundation on which to complete and publish a trilogy and an additional book of meditations.

I’m deeply grateful to my readers near and far, especially those who have communicated gratifying affirmations. Close friends have sustained me in every way and friends of each book made it possible to keep going. My appreciation is boundless. Your loving generosity has been astounding.

Many thanks to all of the independent and major chain bookdealers who promoted my works and made it fun.

My dedication makes clear but I’ll say it again: thank you Mother and Dad for the unforgettable, nutty adventures and lessons of life immortalized in All This Closeness.

ALL THIS CLOSENESS

By

Marie Louise Guste Nix

Impact Publications

DEDICATION

To Mother and Dad

With love and gratitude

and

To Young People Everywhere

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

About the Author

Children of William Joseph Guste, Jr. and Dorothy Schutten Guste

FOREWORD

The Backdrop for the Story

This is a story about a wild and wacky family vacation, in which the Guste family takes an unexpected extended holiday, traveling by car 2,000 miles out of their way throughout the South of the Border country of Mexico. While it’s a humorous and unforgettable episode, within the story is a message about the work we, as Americans, can do to become more aware of our neighbors in other countries and learn from them. It’s a page in the larger story of a Louisiana statesman, William J. Guste, Jr. and his beautiful bride Dorothy Schutten, members of the greatest generation.

Dad was a pioneer champion of civil rights and social justice. The action in this narrative took place three short years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Prior to that we lived in a segregated society which greatly inhibited social mobility among African Americans and other ethnic minorities. Many young people today have little knowledge of such discrimination existing in recent history.

The 1964 law provided theoretical assurance of equality, but there would be decades of work to be done by thousands around America to implement changes in systems across every field and arena. Dad was one of the men and women who took that ball and ran with it till his death in 2013. Dad worked on legislation providing public housing for all, supporting Affirmative Action efforts in education, assuring the quality of health care for all by writing a new charter for New Orleans’ Charity Hospital. The year following the events in this story, Dad would enter political life as a State Senator from New Orleans. Four years later he became the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana and revolutionized that office with unprecedented success as the people’s attorney.

In All This Closeness, William Billy Guste is seen with his large family moving along the road in a neighboring country with much to teach and learn about the American experience. The wisdom he shares with his children about creating a better world are useful and necessary today. We live in a world of instant solutions. But the gifts Dad shared with us come as more of a challenge: Open your heart, roll up your sleeves, extend your hand, work together and never give up.

During the years following his service in World War II, he plunged headlong into serving his community in New Orleans, Louisiana. Among other initiatives, he served as Chairman of the first Human Relations Committee in the City, and as Chairman of the Board of Lay Regents of Xavier University which was then and is now the only black Catholic University in America. Dad’s service as President of the Louisiana Housing Council formed a springboard for his work to fund the umbrella charity Unity for the Homeless. Dad helped establish the Monsignor Wynhoven Apartments, the first residence for low-income elderly in New Orleans. He served as President of the Associated Catholic Charities, President of the Cancer Society of Greater New Orleans, and President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. He also served as the State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus.

In 1968, the year following the road trip chronicled in this narrative, Dad was elected to the Louisiana State Senate, and served from 1968-1972. In that capacity he brought the Model Cities program to New Orleans, organized the Louisiana Housing Council, fought for Urban Renewal legislation, authored Louisiana’s Turnkey Housing Law, and established a special commission to investigate organized crime, among other initiatives.

My Mother was a full partner in every sense of the word and deserves equal credit for all of Dad’s accomplishments. To this day, at 97 years of age, she can retell the story of pivotal conversations. She knew personally most all of the individuals with whom Dad crafted strategies for social improvement, graciously entertaining them at her table. Mother was an excellent listener possessed of keen intuitive wisdom about people. Her social intelligence, impeccable style and sense of humor brought her warm friendship with people of every type.

At the time the events in All This Closeness took place, I had begun a process of muddling through the confusion surrounding social problems and apparent injustice. I often observed my father at close range trying to figure out how he maintained hope and an unfailing positive attitude when the social problems he tackled were so deeply dysfunctional, and the inequities in society so blatant.

I had occasions to ask my Dad to explain the HOPE which fueled his efforts to tackle seemingly impossible problems like race relations in New Orleans. How was it he never seemed discouraged, frustrated or angry in the midst of such a battle? Didn’t it seem overwhelming and hopeless? Young people then were being recruited by revolutionary groups and a year or two later, unrest over injustice would break out as urban and campus protests nationwide.

50 years later we once again hear the same outcry against injustice, which turned into a mighty roar after the brutal death of George Floyd. Though many advancements have been made to foster social mobility among those born in marginal situations and many victories won, major problems still confront us. Problems of multi-generational dependence on government programs continue. The unrest we witness today decries the divide still seen among the haves and the have nots.

The positive attitudes my father drilled into us as children were approaches which produced results. Working together for decades along with thousands of others, his prescription of hope moved us into a world where members of every race, color creed and sex are visible at the top of every profession in America. I invite young and old alike to revisit these timeless lessons as you move with our curious group through miles of rural territory, meeting our neighbors in the country of Mexico. The approach to bringing about change which my father embraced is the only one which will ever make a real and lasting difference. That was to choose hope, think big, work hard at it each and every day, never stop making friends and never give up.

With all of the pioneering efforts Dad worked on, his primary vision for a better world was based on a society of strong families. As his first daughter and the third of his ten children, I will never forget going with Dad to help bail out family homes which had flooded in Hurricane Betsy in 1964. I can never forget annually loading the car with Thanksgiving baskets and making deliveries to families in need. Dad would never be content with just delivering the gifts. He would accept a Coke and strike up a new friendship. I was amazed at Dad’s ability to relate warmly to people from every walk of life. That was the gist of his method in bringing about social change. He didn’t just give a man or lady a basket of food. He opened his heart to give them the gift of a trustworthy friend. Some of those friends would show up at the door on Christmas day, too. Not infrequently, Dad would receive phone calls during family dinner time from friends who needed work. He never rushed the call. For me and my siblings he created learning opportunities at every corner. Choose hope, and be the change in the world that you want to see.

In 1972, Dad became the Attorney General of the State of Louisiana and served five consecutive terms. He hired the best and the brightest lawyers, added an Environmental Division and a Consumer Protection Division. Dad’s work in the Tidelands dispute brought $140 million in oil revenues to the State. EDUCATION: To fund two education trusts for the State, Dad negotiated a settlement with the Federal Government resulting in the release of $654 million in oil and gas revenues. INFRASTRUCTURE: He led a fight to bring $2 billion in Federal funds to the State for highway development. ENVIRONMENT: In the interests of a better environment, Dad led a fight to prevent superfund waste from being disposed of in Louisiana, and worked against destruction of Louisiana’s estuarine. LABOR: Dad’s legal expertise successfully blocked $260 million annual increase in rates. CONSUMER PROTECTION: Dad drafted the first Consumer Protection Law. With outgoing enthusiasm and front wheel drive Dad eventually became the President of the National Association of Attorney’s General. He was respected and even loved by countless men and women of the law – professionals with strongly held positions which differed from his own. He could reach out and make a friend of anyone.

But more important than anything else was Dad’s abundant joy in marriage and family life. Our life was robust with a house full of ten children and their friends who were always welcome. As partners, he and my mother together made the work of family life seem 100% positive, even fun. But the family life Mom and Dad designed was built on plans, ancient principles of wisdom and strategies forged lovingly and implemented jointly.

In All This Closeness I share with you some of the survival principles and positive thinking styles of a true leader and teacher tucked into the story of one hilarious family road trip. The misadventures of this family journey south of the border provided continuous opportunities for Dad and Mom to not only teach principles but to practice them against the odds. Day to day life during this adventure in a different country gave me images that impacted my mind and heart permanently. These images formed a relationship with RISK, with FAITH, with ADVENTURE, with DIVERSITY. During this survival adventure, the aphorisms and adages Dad always used became somewhat less annoying to me as a growing teenager. They became useful tools of wisdom which have greatly helped me through my own personal journey in life.

There’s a reason I couldn’t go to my grave without putting this narrative into a book.

The reason is HOPE that a few of you who are drawn to read our story will find one or two pearls of wisdom in its pages. And HOPE that most of you will get a dose of laughter the best medicine. In the world of today, we need it more than ever.

CHAPTER ONE

M

y father backed out of the driveway, squinting in the sunlight, looking over his shoulder. The chalk-white station wagon, a 1962 Ford, was laden down with nine of us, a couple of backpacks, a loaded red igloo, a water jug. On top, six red plaid American Tourister suitcases were covered with mustard colored canvas and tied to a chrome luggage rack with rope.

It’s crazy hot in the first week of June in New Orleans, so bad you can see humid air sizzling up from the pavement and steam moistens everything and everybody. You really can fry an egg on the sidewalk.

To my parents, the chaos of a family vacation was perfectly good fun. In fact, there was hardly anything more wonderful and educational to do. And it was, it certainly was. Even so at 16, it began to feel a little suffocating. Much as I loved my numerous brothers and sisters, two weeks in a station wagon had started to feel like too much. And not entirely sensible.

Well, is everybody happy? Dad called a line which was a ritual kickoff for family outings. He called out the question in musical tones of the Jesuit High cheerleader he once was. The plastered smile, always exactly the same, seemed calculated to irritate. Who in their right mind would be happy in this jam packed carful of kids and their stuff?

I called him Daddy until that year, the year before my Senior Year, when it came time to switch to Dad. Just under six feet tall and of medium build, he had fair skin and curly hair which looked frizzed up when it wasn’t kept short and combed back with Vaseline Hair Tonic. He had olive green lawyer’s eyes, wore tortoise-shell glasses, and remained in motion constantly except when asleep, at the wheel or at the dinner table. He didn’t seem terribly good-looking to me, just admirable. My mother sure was wild about him—that was obvious. People of all types seemed to smile bright and stand straight when they spoke to him. He was good to people. He concentrated on teaching me about character and ideals, history and heroes. I agreed with everything in the program except the enormous amount of repetition. One thing was certain—you couldn’t forget those lessons. By the time he was finished with you, they were all definitely clear in your mind.

Do you really think this trip is a good idea, Mother? Anne asked with a quiet, serious tone. Jimmy is already taking up too much room. I’m squinched. At six years old she had a way of keeping an eye on everyone. Mother started up a Hail Mary quickly. Her serenity prayer.

Okay. Popped Dad. Who has the map? He rolled up his sleeves.

Dad, we’re not even two blocks from the house and you want to figure out where we are on the map? asked Melanie.

Dad, we don’t need the map yet! Chimed protesters from the back who didn’t want to jostle around to find it.

Don’t tell me what we need, kids. I want to know where the map is. That means now!

Disgruntled gremlins in back groped around moving paraphernalia and people to find it. Somebody’s sitting on it. Everyone lean forward! I said. My job included bossing them when Dad wanted something done.

I just got settled! Umpf! Melanie forced herself over. Let’s take a look. I saw that map under the tote bag a few minutes ago. She went on huffing like it was heroic, shoving things aside to get underneath my overstuffed tote. She yanked it out before Dad started fuming. Whew! Here, Dad.

That-a-girl, Mel! Open it up and take a look at where we are.

We’re around the corner from our house. Melanie said. Aren’t we going to Baton Rouge? We know the best way to get there, don’t we?

Of course, Melanie, but I need to make sure first of that we have the map. The right map. I want to be sure we’re on the right track!

I see, Dad.

Mother fluffed up her shoulder length blonde hair as if engaged in an elegant conversation with the mirror. She had olive complexion, large chestnut brown eyes, and high cheekbones. We noticed she turned heads on the street. She kept a tiny waist too.

Speaking of Baton Rouge, Billy, do you think we’ll make it in time for the banquet tonight? Maybe we could just skip it.

We’ll see The auto reply to questions he didn’t want to answer.

Shove over! Valerie insistently demanded of Melanie.

Over? What do you mean? I’m practically stuck to the door. I might be pushing it open! Thank God the lock works. Retorted Mel.

I see all that space between you and the window! Said Val, from the middle seat. She pointed out an inch of vinyl cushion between Mel’s leg and the edge of the seat.

Sure, Val. I’ll turn and make sure my entire thigh is pressed against the window.

I gave you that window! The least you could do is shove over! Val fumed.

I’m doing the best I can. Who says the window was yours to give away?

You’re older so you think you deserve to get it. I had it before you got to the car. So I gave it to you. Understand? Val shot back.

I called the window from inside, and everyone heard me. Hey guys, didn’t you hear me call the window? There was silence. Mel groaned.

Mother established eye contact with my Dad and raised her eyebrows. She spelled out I-G-N-O-R-E as if her kids didn’t know how to spell. The two of them smiled at each other.

Do you mind if we stop at a gas station? I have to go. I said cringing before the response. It was always the same.

Bathroom? Did you say bathroom? Marie Louise, what on earth is the the matter with you? We haven’t been in the car twenty minutes and you want to go to the bathroom! Didn’t I tell you all to go before we left? I don’t understand it!

Mother makes us drink milk before we leave the house so it won’t go bad. And I did go before we took off, Dad, I promise.

In that case – we’ll see.

Let’s say the Rosary. Mom suggested, prodding open the glove compartment. Here, Melanie. Please pass the rosaries around the car. It wasn’t your typical rosaries, it was the big, fat black ones the nuns wore hanging from their waists to mix with their black floor length skirts.

Mother! We’re not even out of town yet! I was sixteen and would be mortified if anyone I knew caught me riding around in a car full of children chanting the rosary. It seemed mighty fanatical.

Melanie used a reasonable escape strategy. Mother, don’t you think it works best when we’re out on the road a while and everyone gets irritable?

I just don’t believe this! Jimmy, the one boy in the group, piped up. "I’m