Autumn Years Spring 2024

Lou had been moved to write poetry after discovering the works of the late Nobel-prize winning Mexican poet Octavio Paz, but his true muse is Mary.

Lou cannot enunciate. He has amyo trophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and holds up his hand with his fingers spread wide to indicate he is on more than five medications, two of them for ALS stabilization. He either nods or waves away the moment, depending on whether Mary correctly interprets what he meant. While living in Ocean County they joined the Pine Shores Art Association in Manahawkin. They served on the board for their 16 years there. Mary returned to painting full-time, as well as teaching art to 6- to 12-year-olds at the association. She enjoyed watching them develop their skills as they grew up. She is still in touch with some of the parents and students, which “is really special.“ At Greenbriar Oceanaire, Lou’s five line, five-stanza poetry was published in the monthly community newsletter, The Beacon . He had quite a following of admirers of his writing. He had been moved to write poetry after discovering the works of the late Nobel prize winning Mexican

GRAND-MERE By Louis C. Baptiste

Every now and then life gives the privilege Of being in the presence of greatness A person you know has quietly lived life A goddess once as beautiful as Venus Chiseled now from knowledge learned

aters, the start of a lifelong interest. The former football player has vivid memo ries of when his Englewood St. Cecelia High School team beat Englewood’s Dwight Morrow High School. After high school, he got a business degree at Fair leigh Dickinson University. He worked at National Cash Resister, People’s Trust Bank and for Comdisco. At Comdisco he was a manager who would work nights doing disaster recovery planning so that computers would work in case of an emergency. After that, he became a con sultant with his own disaster recovery business. He met Mary online. He

Three feet away the matriarch sat Now the head of the family Still the glue of togetherness A life of giving and sharing Respectfully honored and loved Lines of a life etched face A greatness of earned stature Her calmness in steady eyes Watching what she has spawned Wearing her beloved’s timepiece

wooed her with his beau tifully written words. They married in 2003, and they moved to Greenbriar Ocean aire in Waretown, New Jersey, in 2006, after they both had retired. There they enjoyed building their

Sacrificing her self interest Building, maintaining a comforting nest Providing a home to be proud of Never yielding to life’s many setbacks Protecting the stability of family She spread her knowledge learned She gave back more love than given Her heart a place where to be safe Her eyes showing the way for us She is our never forgotten “Grand-Mere”

poet, Octavio Paz, but says his true muse was Mary. She inspired him to write what be came a book called, “At Long Last, Love.” Asked where they keep all the artwork that Mary has produced over the years, Lou gestures around and points up to the second floor. He takes

new home. When his health issues emerged, they moved back to Bergen County, in 2022, to be near family and more medical care. Their eyes meet as they talk, their glances saying things that sometimes

Beyond the Beach, alcohol inks.

a two-minute stair lift ride to get to his desk, where a grandchild’s painting of “Pop-Pop” oversees his creative writ ing. Mary’s work space features brushes,

48 AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2024