My Istrouma High classmate Walter Imahara's new book reminds us of a shameful episode in America's World War II history.
Dear Smiley: Reading about not being able to lick your fingers because of COVID and having to wear a mask reminded me of something that happened the other day.
Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville, says, "Mention of snake hunter Kelly Falcon reminded me of my experience with him many years ago.
Don Garland gives us another tale of folks trying to deal with Louisiana names:
Janice DeJean, of Baton Rouge, says, "I read a newspaper article about a dog named Cleo, who made a 50-mile trek from her family's new home in Kansas to her old home in Missouri.
Boo LeBlanc, who proudly describes himself as a Donaldsonville native, says, "There has been a mention in your column lately about Kelly Falcon and his snake activities of years ago.
"I love my job as a high school English teacher; there is never a dull moment," says Susan.
Dear Smiley: I was trying to teach my great-granddaughter, Ayla, about how her brain works. I took a dry sponge and put it in some water in a bowl.
Henry Bradsher, of Baton Rouge, says stories of the scenic drive on La. 82 along Pecan Island bring back painful memories:
Bob Martin, a "Louisiana native and Lawrenceville, Georgia, resident," gives this example of the way children reason:
"I swear this is true," says Wayne Smith, of Covington (as if all my stories aren't true!).
Tom Wicker, of Scott, says, "Your articles on Louisiana town names reminded me of my story about a Texan lost in a rain storm.
A "crime doesn't pay here" tale from Roger Waggoner, of Lafayette:
Dear Smiley: Your recent pieces on alligators reminded me of an experience many decades ago, when I lived and worked in Southeast Asia.
Thanks to Marsha R., of Baton Rouge, I've found the main course for our Thanksgiving dinner.
Patsy Picard's "culture shock" tale:
This story, by Lloyd St. Pé, of Covington, reminds me of the movie "Airplane!" and the search for a pilot among the passengers after the crew gets sick:
Annie has an alligator story:
We've received several tales of people using just initials instead of first names, or having an unusual first name. Often they show how these quirks run up against the military way of doing things:
Dear Smiley: My husband plays in the Cajun band LaTouche, which played for several years at the Swamp Fest held at New Orleans' Audubon Zoo.
"Thinking of alligator stories," says Bill Bankhead, of Baton Rouge, "reminded me of 1958 or ’59, when I was on the LSU track team and we competed in the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida.
After a reader mentioned the beauty of La. 82, along the state's western coast, we heard from others with their favorite drives.
David Palmisano, of Marrero, says, "Recent monkey stories brought this one to mind.
I mentioned switching from monkey stories to alligator stories, so here's my favorite story involving gators:
Alex "Sonny" Chapman, of Ville Platte, says, "The monkey stories remind me of one about a neighboring town.
Dear Smiley: A work associate recently took her elderly mother on a shopping trip to a Walmart near their home.
Julaine Schexnayder, of New Iberia, adds to our collection of stories about card games:
I've received a number of monkey stories since the subject was first mentioned, and none of them end well — for the monkeys or the persons involved with them.
Several recent stories involving card games brought this note:
Another story about our simian friends, from Noel Gilbert, of River Ridge:
Alton Duke offers this auction mishap:
Dear Smiley: It seems there is a plethora of television commercials these days promoting interactive fitness gadgets such as “Mirror,” “Peloton,” etc.
Harvey Best, of Rosedale, says, "I have enjoyed the stories about the wonderful food and places to eat in south Louisiana, but I have a story a little closer to home.
Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville, says, "The entry in your column about turning out the lights reminded me of my predecessor and good friend, Sheriff Murray Landry of Assumption Parish.
Louis L. Martin, of Lafayette, presents this commentary on south Louisiana dining:
Martha Swint, of Covington, says, "The story of riding with John Wayne’s brother reminded me of a date in 1943. (Yes, ’43; I’m 91.)
The New Orleans Saints have been playing good football, but Bill Huey says health concerns may necessitate reviving a tradition from the days of woeful performances:
Dear Smiley: Years ago, a postdoctoral researcher from Sweden started work at the LSU Chemistry Department. She was VERY concerned about tornadoes, which they don’t have in Sweden. She asked the usual questions and got the usual answers:
Back in the ’50s, football coaches generally felt that bodybuilding and weightlifting made players slow and muscle-bound.
Ronnie Stutes, of Baton Rouge, is concerned about the removal of the signage on LSU's former Middleton Library:
This account by Richard Fossey, of Baton Rouge, brings back memories of another eventful trip to a garbage dump, in Arlo Guthrie's classic story/song "Alice's Restaurant:"
This happened way back when my current spouse, Lady Katherine, was just Spanish Town Neighbor Katherine. She reminded me of it the other day, so I feel the need to once more defend myself.
Fay Weilbaecher, of Covington, adds to our series on Louisiana folks dealing with "dry heat" in the West:
Dear Smiley: When I was 11 years old, my family moved from Chalmette to Pleasant Hill, California, a suburb of Oakland located on the “dry” side of the coastal mountains separating it from the cold and foggy San Francisco Bay.
Searching for a story about Smiley Sr. for this pre-Father's Day column, I recalled one told to me by a salesman buddy of his:
For our series on life in drier climes, Marsha R., of Baton Rouge, offers this:
From time to time folks suggest alternatives to "Happy Birthday" to mark the 20 seconds we're supposed to wash our hands to help stave off the coronavirus.
More tales of Californians experiencing Louisiana weather:
With Father's Day coming up, we've been getting stories about funny things dads say or do.
Dear Smiley: My fellow sailors thought I was weird because I looked forward to “stuff on a shingle" (creamed chipped beef on toast).
John Hu, of Baton Rouge, has found the physician some of us need these days: