I know what you're here for. Like the others.
My name is Gregario Fuentes and I was born on August 1, 1874. My birthplace was in the maternal home of my young mother located on Villere Street in New Orleans.
First things folks ask is if I knew any famous persons. Sure did.
Mark Twain himself told me that all babies are ugly at first, but each is ugly in its own way. But that was in Manhattan when he lived on West 10th. I was working at the Fulton Market and Mr. Twain tipped me for fetching him an extra sack to carry some whitefish home.
The hard thing is still living after so many are gone. And being hard of hearing. That's a bad one, but better than being blind in both eyes.
I do remember meeting Edith Wharton outside the library on 5th. I picked up her parasol for her and she thanked me and smiled very nicely as she walked on. Of course I didn't know much about her, but another lady told me who she was and what she was famous for. I was glad to do her a friend.
When I turned 38 I got it into my head that I would eat a serving of ice cream every day of my life. Had a spell when it was always chocolate but that got to me too much after several years. So I settled on vanilla with different toppings. Of late pecans have been what suit me most.
I was told I was too old to join when our boys went over in '17. The ones I knew that made it back had it rough, a lot of them.
I saw Babe Ruth play one time in 1924. Saw one of his 46 home runs. Looked like it might not come back to earth.
I miss reading. My mother was very particular about learning to read. Last book I could get through was Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour. That was some time ago. Now I just listen to the television and squint.
October 1st in 1940 I got my first social check for $23.67.
Pearl Harbor, now that was a dirty one.
In 1989 three government men came out to see me because I was 115 and the social checks were stopped. They asked me a bunch of questions. Studied my birth certificate that I had in a Florsheim shoe box like it was from another country.
I got my first pair in 1896 by the way.
But the social checks started coming again and been getting them ever since.
And you want to know how much social I get each month.
Well that doesn't matter much as I am the sole heir of 52 wells in Vermillion Parish.
Lyman 2025
