Smiley Anders for July 31, 2012

I make a living shuffling around words, but I recognize the fact that sometimes we can communicate better without them.

Keith Horcasitas says the aftermath of the horrendous theater shootings in Aurora, Colo., including the survival of Baton Rouge’s own Bonnie Kate Pourciau, got him thinking about ways to deal with the tragedy.

He was reminded of a story told by Leo “Dr. Love” Buscaglia:

“A 4-year-old boy’s next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

“Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there.

“When his mother later asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, ‘Nothing, I just helped him cry.’ ”

No pie for you!

The destruction of the iconic Hubig’s Pie bakery in New Orleans has to make you wonder how much more that fine old city can take.

Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil disaster, the Saints’ Bountygate scandal, Formosan termites, and now this — the loss of those little pies that, along with a Lucky Dog or possibly a few Krystal sliders, made up lunch and provided heartburn to generations of New Orleanians.

But this is a resilient city, and life will go on.

Remember, people of New Orleans, there are still Cafe du Monde beignets to provide your grease-and-sugar fix. …

Reason to quit

Dwight “Barber Shop Man” Cason tells of the time years ago when his step-dad, Adam, explained to his doctor why he had quit smoking:

“Adam told the doctor, ‘Nine years ago in the coal mines the bootlegger raised the price of bootleg cigarettes from 15 cents to 25 cents a pack.

“‘I told the bootlegger I was not going to pay that.’

“Wish I had had a camera to catch the look on the doctor’s face. …’ ”

Nuisances on wheels

Della Stout says she uses the litterbug hotline of the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries often to report incidents of littering.

I mentioned this line, [phone], in an earlier column.

The violators get a warning letter letting them know their trashy behavior has been spotted.

Says Della, “I wish we could report noise polluters and oil drippers and exhaust cloud violators as well! This is pollution and litter too!”

Looking for stuff

Carole Cross says that for its next production, “Assassins,” which runs Aug. 24-Sept. 1, Baton Rouge Little Theater needs to borrow these props:

An early 1930s working flash camera.

Early 1930s microphones.

An early 1970s tape recorder with a hand-held microphone.

Call [phone].

Cutting remarks

On Saturday kids can get free back-to-school haircuts at Walker United Methodist Church, starting at 11 a.m.

Cosmetologists providing the haircuts are Marsah Barbari, Carla Waddell and Sue Hilliard (the mom of the Rev. Jeff Hilliard, the pastor).

Pastor Jeff says snacks will be provided, along with games, both board and outdoor.

He adds, “We ask for clean hair, please.”

Also, no hair coloring will be provided.

Special People Dept.

• Delphine Albert, of Plaquemine, celebrated her 105th birthday Sunday. (Paula Guerin, who sent in this information, adds “WOW,” a sentiment I heartily share. …)
• Geneva Butler, of Baker, celebrates her 90th birthday Tuesday.
• Winnie Boudreaux, of Magnolia Assisted Living in Gonzales, celebrates her 90th birthday Tuesday.
• Ovide and Gerrie Mix, of Ventress, celebrated their 50th anniversary Saturday.

Thought for the Day

From Mel Prust: “Eat a toad for breakfast, and nothing worse can happen to you all day.”

Biting wit

Jay Becnel, of Zachary, says, “I’m not originally from Louisiana, and we never had those dang fire ants in other places I lived!

“I get bit by fire ants about every day, so I’m always thinking about them!”

But Jay has figured out a way to deal with them, using his leaf-blower to send them on their way, out of his yard and hopefully out of his life.

He says while he was performing this task, he was reminded of the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s classic song:

“The ants’re blowin’ in the wind.”

Initial reaction

In the Monday column, you might recall, Gerald Hubenak told of his son receiving a Ph.D. from the Texas A&M vet school.

Says Gerald, “I received an immediate correction from my Aggie son saying his degree is not a Ph.D. but rather a DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine).

“I told him I knew that, but I was afraid that if I used DVM, Boudreaux and Thibodeaux would think he worked for the Department of Motor Vehicles!”

Write Smiley at [e-mail]. He can also be reached by fax at [phone] or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.