The Voice of Southwest Louisiana December 2017 Issue

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SWLA feature story My Best By Joyce R. Kebodeaux Christmas Ever Liz Eastman Jennings School picture Year she got the rod and reel for christmas Liz as a toddler to second grade When I asked Liz Eastman, “What was your best Christmas ever?” her spontaneous answer was, “When I was in seventh grade. I got a fishing pole and a record player.” This got my attention. One would think a middle school girl would ask for “girly things,” “I was a bit of a tomboy,” Liz laughs. As we talked about her gifts I came to understand why she was so excited about a rod and reel. It goes back to her grandfather, Frank Dietz Cannon who was an avid fisherman and hunter. He passed his passion down to his children which lives on today in his greatgreat-grand’s. A buddy who had moved to Louisiana missed fishing and hunting with Frank. He was visiting back in Indiana. “Frank,” he said, “there are so many good places to hunt and fish. You ought to come down there.” When Frank brought up moving to Louisiana to his wife, Bertie Ann, she wasn’t at all into the idea. “I’d like to see what it’s like down there,” he bargained “We can stay for just one year. If you don’t want to stay after that we’ll move back here to our families.” After much cajoling, Bertie finally gave in. Frank found work here and they began their life in the sportsman‘s paradise. By the year’s end the transplants were firmly rooted in Louisiana’s swampy soil. Making their home in Welch, they happily lived out their lives there watching their children and grandchildren grow up to love hunting and fishing just as Grandpa did. Liz was born in Lake Charles. She had three younger brothers. Her father’s work took the family to live in several towns in Southwest Louisiana. “When we lived in Ville Platte there were more horse and buggies than there were cars,” Liz recalls, “We moved to Jennings when I was in the sixth grade and I graduated from Jennings High School.” With their grandparent’s home in Welch and Liz and her family in Jennings they were all very close. While Frank Cannon taught the grandchildren to fish just as he had their dad, Grandma Bertie left her mark on the family too. Liz chuckled, “On Sundays she loaded up her black iron pot, some potatoes, seasonings 14 December 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 5
and a tub of lard. All the roads towards Cameron were dirt roads. Leaving at two or three in the morning we each had our fishing poles in the old car and we children slept all the way there Daddy and Grandpa knew all the best places to catch fish. As soon as we caught enough for our meal the men cleaned them. Mama and Grandma cooked them and we ate outdoors. Once when we were fishing from the rocks at the jetties, my little brother was taken by the tide into the deep water. Grandma was the fastest. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back to shore.” For as long as I can remember Daddy took us children to the woods near Evangeline to find a Christmas tree. In those days everybody cut down a pine tree growing on vacant land. We made green and red paper chains from construction paper. Mama got silver foil icicles in a box. She helped us string popcorn using a needle and thread. When the Sears Catalog [the Wish Book, we called it] came in the mail mama ordered a large tin of Christmas Candy. The hard candies were different flavors and shapes. I especially liked the striped ones that looked like ribbons. We each got a few pieces and the rest was put away for Christmas Day. On Christmas Morning our stockings were filled with fruit, nuts and small gifts. Grandma came over with her homemade divinity” Until that memorable Christmas Liz remembers so well, she had only a cane pole to fish with. She was as excited about her first rod and reel as she was with the new record player. While at home her family enjoyed the record player too. Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby were some of their favorites. Liz married Frank Eastman in January 1953. “While Frank was in the United States Marines we lived out of state. It was hard leaving my family. Our first home away from here was made of railroad cross-ties and cement. When we lived in the Mohave Desert, a tribe of Indians lived across the street. There were also three marine and one air force base surrounding the town.” Liz Eastman, at 83years young each Christmas becomes the best ever. Liz lost her husband in the year 2000. Their children, Scott, Mari, Dietz, Jan and Kristi all live in Southwest La. The Liz today. At age 83 Liz still enjoys fishing at Toledo Bend L-R front row: Scott Eastman, Mari Rieth, Dietz Eastman L-R back row: Liz Eastman, Kristi Raca, Jan Eastman stocking tradition of Liz’s childhood has been carried on throughout the years. At 8:00 a.m. Christmas morning the whole family, dressed in pajamas gather for breakfast and the gift exchange, then return home. At 2:00 p.m. they return for Christmas Dinner which include Liz’s cornbread dressing, ham, and turkey and, of course wild game; compliments of the hunters in the Eastman Family. To Liz Eastman, at 83 years young each Christmas becomes the best ever. Volume 5 • Number 5 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM December 2017 15
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