"A couple of weeks ago I was at the old New Orleans airport waiting for a flight," says Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville.
Saturday, Nov. 9, was the 30th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Wall.
Dear Smiley: The Advocate article on the opening day of the New Orleans airport covered all the features expected: parking, security screening, check-in, and amenities.
I was perusing the Thursday Advocate when I came across a recipe that sounded interesting: shrimp, corn and sweet potato soup.
We've heard from several moms about getting revenge when their children have children of their own who misbehave in exactly the same way.
It had to happen.
Dear Smiley: About kids running away from home:
Donald Landaiche, of Donaldsonville, says our stories about witnesses for a golfer's hole-in-one "brought back a very painful memory.
On Saturday, Mike Manes, of New Iberia, told of his family's experiences with Hansen's disease, and relatives who had lived at the treatment center in Carville.
You may recall that Brent St. Blanc, in the Oct. 15 column, told of reading interesting police reports in the Kalispell, Montana, newspaper during a stop there.
What is it with LSU quarterbacks and pants?
Warren Byrd, of Baton Rouge, tells this “running away from home” story.
Dear Smiley: On a trip to The Holy Land, a number of us in our group decided to ride a camel in Palestine.
Bill Haynie, of Slidell, expands on recent items about Siri and Alexa eavesdropping on conversations — adding OnStar to this list:
Alma Mims, of Mandeville, has a "why we love our grandchildren" story:
Brent St. Blanc has found evidence that out west, the days of the O.K. Corral are long gone:
Tom Musser tells a chilling tale of the hazards of a marital misunderstanding involving beer:
Alex "Sonny" Chapman, of Ville Platte, comments on two recent column topics — political flyers and outhouses:
Dear Smiley: The recent article about an incident involving a camel at a truck stop in Grosse Tete reminded me of a camel fight I saw in Izmir, Turkey, when I was in the Navy.
With the election coming up Saturday, this story from Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville, is especially timely:
Everett Powers says, "Your seminar on armadillos reminds me:
David C. Peltier, of Thibodaux, is an LSU fan who knows where to draw the line:
I have to admit I'm at a loss to understand this one.
The current success of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger reminds my son-in-law Boyce Smith of the night in the mid-'70s when Boyce was on the Zachary High Broncos football team and it played the Central High Wildcats.
Dear Smiley: My wife told me she wasn't going to read the article in The Advocate where the gubernatorial candidates revealed their country music favorites.
Tony Falterman, of Napoleonville, tells this "only in Louisiana" story:
T-Bob Taylor, of Panama City Beach, Florida, says our Mike the Tiger stories remind him of the time Mike IV took a stroll around the LSU campus.
It happened in 1935, but it's still being discussed and argued about today.
Nobey Benoit offers this look at Louisiana's wild kingdom:
As I sift through my mailbox every morning, I sometimes come across surveys by national firms that purport to have determined the "best" of something in our state.
Dear Smiley: Being one of only two living cheerleaders (Bobbie Chachere the other) who has ridden into Tiger Stadium on the cages of Mike I, II and III, I feel I am qualified to make a slight correction to a column item.
T-Bob Taylor, of Panama City Beach, Florida, is a proud LSU grad and super football fan. But he says the recent play of the Tigers has caused him to adjust his game-watching ritual:
Earl Newman, like many golfers, is always looking for a good-luck charm. He thinks he might have found it:
I give up.
Around here, we figure autumn weather is here when the high temperatures go from the 90s to the 80s.
When Dr. Bert Pittman sent me a note about his mom, Evelyn Pittman, of Jefferson, reaching her 97th year Monday, he included this tale:
Dear Smiley: I had a wonderful German shepherd mix named Alfie when I was in college, and he loved to ride in my VW Beetle.
Our recent discussion of hand signs for LSU football fans has yielded a number of ideas, including these two — one good and one bad.
Dan Stein, of Baton Rouge, offers this example of the way technology modifies our behavior:
I watched in disbelief as a quick whistle at the Saints-Rams game robbed Cameron Jordan of a touchdown on a fumble recovery.
A request for an LSU Tigers hand signal to use at games got a quick response:
As discussed earlier, much of Louisiana is flat, making activities needing hills a challenge. But we do our best finding high places:
Dear Smiley: What Texas did to the LSU band, team, and fans is sucky no doubt, but as the classy flagship university of our great state, a state known for its hospitality and kindness, shouldn’t we back off the "eye for an eye" mentality? We sound petty.
Joe Fairchild, of Thibodaux, says, "My wife, who is Canadian, asked me during the LSU-Texas game Saturday night about a universal LSU Tiger support hand recognition symbol.
I know, I said I was wrapping up VW Beetle stories. And I am. Trust me. Just not yet…
After I wrote about the hills of Natchez, Mississippi, being perfect for flying down on scooters, wagons, etc., Mike Boudreaux, of Bush, told how resourceful Louisiana kids dealt with their level terrain:
After a couple of stories about kids attempting to run away from home, here's one about an attempted parent exchange by disgruntled youths:
Robert "Yogi" Naquin, our correspondent from "down da bayou," says the start of the school year reminds him of his first grade days (no pre-K or kindergarten):
Dear Smiley: Speaking of VW campers:
Ernie Gremillion says, "The story about pinball machines reminds me of this:
After determining that all of you once owned a VW Beetle and have a story about it, we're winding down that topic. But there's still the VW bus to discuss, the ultimate hippie vehicle and the scene of … well, a lot of stuff.