Fun stories about my late Uncle Arthur, Kleinpeter Family, Childhood Memories, New Orleans, Katrina, Grocery Stores, Faith
Uncle Arthur Kleinpeter
While most people associate The Kleinpeter Family with Baton Rouge per the Dairy, Farms, Hayrides, and many wonderful people, there is an extended family tradition in New Orleans. My mother was one of 10 Kleinpeter children who lived in the Mid-City area - catercorner to where the Mercy Hospital was.
Mom and her siblings home was upstairs to the Kleinpeter's Grocery on S. Jefferson Davis Parkway at Bienville, that included some of the best meat and seafood in town. My late Uncle Arthur died recently in Las Vegas, where he was displaced to by Katrina; he and his wife, Aunt "Katy," had stayed there with their family.
With Uncle "Junior" (Francis Joseph, Sr.) Kleinpeter, his inseparable brother, they managed as butchers for the store. At one time or another in their lives, mom, Frankie, Ray, A.G, Claire, Beverly, Ruth and Joselia also helped at the store, as my grandfather made sure that everyone learned the ropes of life per that institution!
As kids, we would see Uncle Arthur at many family gatherings and always loved how engaging he was with us - he knew how to tell stories better than anybody I'd ever known. Most of the times, to the chagrin of our parents, we would have to be excluded from some of these tales, since he used a "sailor type language" so flippantly and extemporaneously.
Almost every Sunday, a lot of our family would go to visit Grandma Kleinpeter who stayed with Uncle Ray, so we got to see many others like Uncle Arthur. Later, we would gather around to get ready to watch the Wonderful World of Disney and Mission Impossible on tv. As the adults would begin catching up on news and gossip, we kids would inevitably have to be moved temporarily to the kitchen when the stories got above us.
While he never did complete a lot of schooling, he was a genius of common sense and could find practicality in resolving most problems - particularly in human relations. When he found out that I had begun social work studies in college, he used to tease me about having a "psychiatrist couch" for his grocery clients who were waiting to get their meat or seafood orders completed. I'm sure he put Dr. Phil to shame!
One of the fun stories that we and our kids loved was about when he was a kid and wanted to prove that a chicken could fly. He and his buddies got on the Huey P. Long Bridge and let loose an ornery chicken out of a bag. Just when it looked like he was going to lose a bet with someone as the bird was nosediving, it took a last minute swerve before hitting the Mississippi River and made it to shore!
Another great tale involved the Barnum and Bailey Circus that had made a visit to New Orleans when he was a teenager. He cited how exciting it was for he and his buddies to see many of the animals in a mid-day parade going down Canal Street that summer. It happened that the weather was very hot that day, so the Circus staff made sure to squirt water on the animals frequently.
Well, as some personnel were helping to guide an elephant on a turn, it happened to wander a little too far toward a corner and came to try for a sit down rest onto a fire hydrant. As things had gotten very heated up that sunny day, Arthur noted how he had never heard an elephant shriek and dance in the Circus like that male elephant did at that moment when it unfortunately experienced "Great Balls Of Fire," like Snuffy Smith used to say in the comics!
While Uncle Arthur certainly brought us so much joy per his God-given comical talents, he was also a very devoted person to his wife and family and knew the importance of dedication to people and commitments. He, Uncle Junior and others spent many free days enjoying the outdoors per fishing, as they would reel in so many goodies for the business, family and friends.
Before Katrina, when Uncle Arthur realized that he had to cut back on his favorite hobby, he generously gave Andrew, our oldest son, many of his prized fishing wares. I will always treasure these and many other wonderful memories of Uncle Arthur and how he followed what Jesus said: "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA, 1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810, khorcasitas.yahoo.com, June 21, 2009.
Want to review or comment on this short story?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviewed by Scarlett Dupre
9/11/2010
I came across this story while trying to find out if anyone remembered this grocery store on the corner. I also lived in the MidCity area, on Iberville Street, My Mom and Grannie would always go to this grocery store since it was so close. I have a few memories (1970's) of the screen door and concrete floor??? My sister (who is younger) remembers our Mother was friends with the lady who would check us out. She remembers the odd meat that was sold...Raccoon???? Or at least my mom told her that's what it was. I also remember the P.T. Barnum and Bailey circus as my mom also took us. This was a great story to think back at my own childhood going up in New Orleans. Thanks for sharing.
The Wholly Book of Doo-Doo-Rot-on-Me is adult satirical humor featuring adult language and adult content, and the work is a parody of the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy.
Stories Worth Wiping Your A** With
Whether you're making a deposit at the stank bank, dropping a return at the squat shop, or conducting a brown business meeting, these perfectly timed tales provide the literary fragrance your privacy deserves. F
