Imagine this:
Cheryl Litwin, of Metairie, says, "On the subject of why you don't need to bother locking your car in New Orleans, here is a post-Katrina story.
Glenn Balentine comments on our story of New Orleans guys, relocated to Acadiana after Katrina, showing their prowess at opening locked cars:
Lillian Miller tells why she feels cold weather isn't all bad:
From our Pessimists' Corner comes this discouraging word from Earl Newman:
Dear Smiley: Many years ago my niece, who was in the fifth grade, was bragging to her parents that she was going to ace her spelling test, because she knew all the words.
Another story about New Orleans folks taking refuge in Acadiana after Hurricane Katrina:
Grace Kleinpeter Savoie says, "My dad is Dr. Larry Kleinpeter (fondly known as Doc), a well-known pediatrician who retired from Baton Rouge Clinic in 1995.
Linda Dalferes says, "A college friend of my husband reported on the side effects of his second COVID vaccination:
Dear Smiley: Your mention of guys from my age group remembering their past questionable athletic achievements reminds me of my own glorious moment.
Keith Horcasitas tells a timely story of his New Orleans boyhood:
Since my only claim to fame is having once been a cheerleader at Istrouma High, I was interested in this cheerleading story from May Waggoner:
Earl Newman says no song captures the ennui of our days during the COVID pandemic than the Statler Brothers' 1965 hit, “Flowers on the Wall,” about a lonely soul who's counting the flowers on his wallpaper, playing solitaire with a 51-card deck, a…
Our story of the novice hurdler who won third place in a three-man race led others to tell of their athletic achievements:
This is the time of year when I watch the Weather Channel's blizzard coverage to remind myself that with all its faults, Louisiana doesn't have winters like the Frozen Nawth.
Dear Smiley: Last week I called my doctor's office to make an appointment to have my eyes checked.
I know, fruitcake season is long gone, supplanted by king cake season and Girl Scout cookie season, to be followed by Valentine's Day chocolates season and Easter candy season.
Martin St. Romain, of Raceland, offers an inspiring example of the value of good coaching:
Joy Braud, of Baton Rouge, thinks of her mother whenever she hears anyone making fun of a Cajun accent:
Peter Bourgeois, of Opelousas, has an "Only in Louisiana" story:
It seems we are relying more and more on information from small round devices with names like Siri and Alexa, from which soothing female voices dispense football scores, weather updates, and answers to vital questions such as "What is Dolly Parton…
Dear Smiley: Your mention of Charlie's Steak House reminded me of a couple of stories about this (before Hurricane Katrina) only-in-New Orleans spot.
Craig M. Bennett, of Morgan City, adds to our stories of restroom situations:
The practice of giving every kid who takes part in an event some kind of trophy, ribbon, medal, etc., is common these days, despite complaints from parents of youngsters who actually won.
After recalling Baton Rouge's ban on Sunday beer sales, we learned New Orleans also had Sunday no-no's.
On Saturday we discussed differing restroom requirements of men and women, especially in crowded situations.
Don Cunningham, of Baton Rouge, reminds us of the days when Sunday beer sales were outlawed in the capital city:
Dear Smiley: Many years ago, the pastor of the Baptist church down the street welcomed us to the neighborhood and invited us to visit his church, even after we said we were Catholic.
After a reader who loves holiday fruitcakes mentioned the sport of fruitcake tossing (in a disparaging manner, of course), I had to admit this activity was new to me.
Here's a story that broke up the gang in the operating room:
"Stories of drivers slow to move on green lights reminded me of a problem years ago," says Mary Vernoy, of Metairie.
Here's an example of throwing yourself on the mercy of the court:
T-Bob Taylor, of Panama City Beach, Florida, tells this story:
Dear Smiley: In 1966 I was a single mom living in Houston. I went on an adult field trip to NASA with my 4-year-old son, Chris, the only child in the group.
It seems many of you have stories about incidents that occurred during church services. Here are a few that made me chuckle:
Stories of Christmas mishaps reminded readers of other near-disasters.
Lately we've been imagining the incidents leading to warning labels on products, or warnings on TV commercials.
Cathy Brouillette says, "A recent correction in The Advocate changed 18 teaspoons of pepper to ⅛ teaspoon. I can relate.
Donald Landaiche, of Donaldsonville, says tales of Christmas tree mishaps remind him of this story of how not to decorate a tree:
Dear Smiley: My husband and I were having a heated discussion over something trivial (I wanted to bake fancy Christmas cookies; he wanted snickerdoodles.)
Terry Grundmann, of Kenner, says, "Reading your column on various instructions, I was amazed when I bought a new car to find instructions on how to fasten a seatbelt.
John in Lacombe questions an Advocate story from last year about the lady claiming she was the first to expose her, uh, upper portion for Mardi Gras beads in 1976:
Dr. Louis L. Martin, DVM, of Lafayette, says he's been an usher at St. Peter's in Carencro for over 40 years, and has collected some memorable stories in that time:
Watching scaled-back New Year's festivities in Times Square and counting down to midnight (made it all the way to 10:30 p.m.!), I recalled a New York story from Karen Poirrier, of Lutcher, about her recent trip there:
As I've often said, public service is my life.
"During this virus, families are having to keep their spirits up for their children and grandchildren," says Fay Weilbaecher, of Covington.
Live Christmas trees are popular because they smell good and bring the woods into the house.
I've received some insightful comments on the LSU-Florida football game — now known in Gainesville as "The Foggy Bottom Breakdown."
One of the saddest aspects of our COVID-19 experience is the changes it's made in our holiday celebrations with loved one. A lot of us will be missing the bustle and turmoil of a houseful of merrymakers, including excited kids with their treasures…
Dear Smiley: I read with delight stories on what young children do and say.
Evidence that we never forget our favorite teachers: