Dear Smiley: Back in the day, my wife, Annette, was quite the young singer. She was a “Yamette” at the Yamiblee in Opelousas, and sang on the old Dezauche Blue Room Show on KSLO. One night Little Jimmy Dickens came to town and performed at the old Opelousas High gym. While there, he … Continue reading →

Mary Ann Sternberg’s train story is also a kid story: “Many years ago, my late husband Josef and I decided we would take our three young children on the train from Hammond to New Orleans, as they had been on airplanes already but never enjoyed the fun of train travel. “We had both loved riding … Continue reading →

Jackie Upton says the tornadoes in Oklahoma take her back to her childhood there: “My dad worked for Carter Oil Co. when they built houses for their employees. “Each company ‘camp’ had its own sewer system, water tank for running water and, best of all, storm cellars. “I cannot tell you how many times … Continue reading →

Judith Lanclos tells of visiting Sicily with husband Steve and friends Leigh and Eva Hart: “While preparing for the trip, I discovered that Vincenzo Clemente, who owns Restaurante Cin Cin in Palermo, lived in Baton Rouge for several years and worked at Gino’s. “When I emailed Vincenzo for a reservation, he offered to … Continue reading →

Chuck Falcon, of Donaldsonville, says, “Your story titled ‘Kids On A Train’ reminded me of what happened to my brother Renard and a friend of his. “Living in the country in the small settlement of Smoke Bend, there were many freight trains that would pass by. Sometimes they would stop near our house. “One had … Continue reading →

Dear Smiley: While attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, I was the associate pastor at a small church in Grand Prairie. Since the staff consisted of the pastor, a secretary and me, I often was referred to as the minister of music, minister of education, and/or minister of youth. The … Continue reading →

Karen Poirrier, of Lutcher, tells how a caring nurse can calm a patient with a few words: “Recently, when I went to the St. James Parish Hospital for a ‘preventive medicine procedure,’ I was apprehensive. “To lessen my anxiety before putting me under, the nurse anesthetist, Glenda Vicknair, recited the ‘Senior Citizens Serenity Prayer:’ Continue reading →

If it wasn’t for little kids, I wouldn’t have nearly as much to write about, and might have to get a real job. For instance, here’s one from Bill Rochel, of Metairie: “I am the proud granddad to 5-year-old Elizabeth Grace Rice. She does not live in this area and I see her far too … Continue reading →

This tale, from Gerald Wray, of Pride, is dedicated to all working couples who share a bathroom: “My wife, Kathy, wakes up before me and starts her morning routine of getting ready for work. “I usually just lie in bed and wait, because I know the ‘process’ usually takes 30-45 minutes to complete. “But … Continue reading →

Henry Bradsher has gained a new respect for our furry friend the cat: “After several years of watching feral cats parade across our rear patio as if they owned the place, we asked the parish Animal Control & Rescue Center for a cat trap. “They delivered a trap on a recent Tuesday and baited it … Continue reading →

Thomas Murrel, of Church Point, says the recent death of country music legend George Jones brings to mind this tale: “Although many people didn’t realize it, George Jones lived for a time in the Sunset-Grand Coteau area as well as in Church Point. “My longtime friend Lee Worley, of Opelousas, says the phone rang … Continue reading →

Dear Smiley: Now that Capital City Press is no longer a Manship company, may we tell a happy bit of newspaper history: A particularly rigid member of the editorial staff of the State-Times (we won’t name names) was prowling the paper one late December afternoon, convinced that employees were drinking alcoholic beverages … Continue reading →

Dionne Viosca, of Metairie, says our recent police blotter stories “brought back a hilarious ‘best of the blotter’ memory for my husband and me. “Our son lives in Durango, Colo., and every few weeks he e-mails us some really funny police reports: ‘A loud noise was heard coming from an apartment on 16th Street around midnight,’ … Continue reading →

A Mother’s Day memory: Bernadette Mills says the pedals moving on an old treadle sewing machine is the sound she associates with her mom: “Mother had an old treadle sewing machine on which she made most of our clothes. “When Daddy worked late, we would wake up and hear the treadle going. “After … Continue reading →

Dr. William Smith passes along this story that supposedly happened on the Panama Limited, the legendary train running from New Orleans to Chicago. I doubt that it really happened, but it’s still a fine tale: A businessman boarded the train in New Orleans and told the head porter, “I’m dead tired, so I’m going to have … Continue reading →

Years ago I was dealing with a computer company about a problem, and got to know many of their employees in India so well that I felt like inviting them to drop by for a visit if they were ever in the States. So I can identify with Gladys Ford’s story: “While trying to make … Continue reading →

Bo Bienvenu, of Prairieville, says, “I just attended my 50-year reunion, and have a few observations: “Gray hair, lack of hair, fat, wrinkles, limps, lumps etc. can’t hide real beauty. “True friendships are only interrupted, not terminated, by distance and time. “Old people lie — a lot. ‘You haven’t changed a bit,’ … Continue reading →

Dear Smiley: I noted that an LSU attorney blamed efforts to obtain public information on the search for the new LSU president on “press curiosity.” It reminded me of an incident when I was working for a paper in Arkansas. A board considering selection of a site for a new prison … Continue reading →

Every few years Jess Walker visits Grass Valley, Calif., and brings us back reports from the local paper’s “Police Blotter”: The reports by local law enforcement agencies indicate that things are a lot more exciting there than they are here: “10:53 p.m. — A caller reported two men beating up a woman with flashlights. It … Continue reading →

Since I joined The Advocate about 100 years ago, I’ve worked for three publishers. With a new regime coming in, I’m reminded of what class acts preceded it. Doug Manship Sr. was publisher when I joined the paper to cover business news and was a valued source of tips. He obviously had … Continue reading →

One of the many changes in lifestyle since I was a youngster involves haircuts. The first barber I remember was a bald guy who cut my hair with one hand while holding the phone in his other hand and making book. As a kid I didn’t find this unusual, thinking it was just … Continue reading →

Tom Toddy tells of a situation faced by every parent who ever took a long car trip with the little darlings: “My daughter tells of a drive to a Florida vacation spot with her young children. “They had barely cleared the Baton Rouge city limits when the barrage of questions began: ‘How much longer … Continue reading →

Dear Smiley: While shopping recently in Gonzales, my husband, Buddy, and I met “Slick” Schexnayder, a gentleman who had moved from our community years ago. After asking about his and his family’s well-being, I excused myself and continued to shop, to give the two men an opportunity to catch up on one … Continue reading →

The life of a highly trained professional journalist is not an easy one. I had to brave Wednesday’s storm to go to Harahan to meet new Advocate subscribers Bernard J. “Chick” Germaine and Eugene E. Cobb over crawfish and catfish at Smilie’s restaurant. They invited me down after I expressed interest in the place due … Continue reading →

This LSU grad attended a “Texas Aggie Muster” by the Baton Rouge A&M Club — and lived to tell about it. Actually, the Aggies were extremely gracious, the barbecue was tasty (who knew Baton Rouge Country Club was such a good barbecue joint?) and it was all in all a fine evening. There was a … Continue reading →

Kathleen Sonnier Mier says one way for Cajuns to say “That’s where I was born” is “C’est là où mon nombril est enterré.” Literally, she says, it means, “There’s where my nombril (navel stump) is buried.” When Kathleen and husband Louis were at a “Table Francaise” at the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville, Mavis … Continue reading →

I have resisted running “senior moment” items because of the possibility that I might start getting tales about MINE. But this story, from Carroll DiBenedetto, is worth telling: “A friend of mine who lives in the Gonzales area (I won’t tell you how old he is) had an appointment in New Orleans. “On the … Continue reading →

Doug Johnson, of Watson, headed this “True Flattery:” “My wife and I recently made friends with a retired couple, John and Patricia, who visit Baton Rouge on occasion. “They own a house in a rural area near Natchez, Miss. Since they are not from anywhere near this area, I asked John why they built a … Continue reading →

Dear Smiley: Why is it that prior to so many sporting events the guest artists feel they have to make up another melody for the Star-Spangled Banner? They seem to feel that they have to embellish their “rendition” with up and down modulations, or in and out of falsetto. On such … Continue reading →

Phil Hannaman, of Tyler, Texas, says about the guys we mentioned who chug-a-lug Tabasco: “Granny used to drink a shot of vinegar each day, as she said, ‘to health!’ The properties in vinegar help to detox the body. “Read the ingredients on the Tabasco label — distilled vinegar, red peppers and salt.” Continue reading →

Pat Crotty comments on the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings: “True story: Several runners at the marathon, either finished or close to finishing, ran an additional two miles to the nearest hospital TO DONATE BLOOD. “Now that, as far as I’m concerned, is heroic!” Jimmy provides a … Continue reading →

As I advised a couple of years ago, after an idyllic trip to Chicago by train: “Don’t write off passenger trains yet.” I just heard from Jeri Flynn about a beautiful green passenger train she saw going east-west on the tracks that run along Perkins Road. She hasn’t seen a passenger train coming through Baton … Continue reading →

I’m so excited about turning in my income tax form a day early that I just can’t seem to get off the subject. Here’s a story Shirley Fleniken came across: A nervous taxpayer was unhappily conversing with the IRS auditor who had come to review his records. At one point the auditor … Continue reading →

Ernie Gremillion offers an appropriate story for this date: “As a former IRS employee, I am reminded of the many funny IRS stories I have heard. “One that comes to mind is about the anonymous letter IRS received with a large check attached. “The letter went on the describe how the writer … Continue reading →

Dear Smiley: One Saturday before Easter at Calandro’s on Government Street, a red Mustang convertible with the top down drove up. Seated majestically on the back seat was a large gray and white dog. As the driver got out, I heard him tell his dog, “Don’t drive off while I’m gone.” I … Continue reading →

J. Earl Landry says for 17 of his 34 years with Esso Standard Oil (now ExxonMobil) he played in the refinery band. He says one of the band’s favorite gigs was the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival: “Once, upon returning to work after playing there, I raved about the great times in Breaux Bridge to a … Continue reading →

The success of the LSU baseball team, currently No. 1 in the nation, has been truly stunning. But when I heard a guy in a local pub telling of his plans to vacation in Omaha this year to catch the Tigers in the College World Series, I felt a bit uneasy. For it’s a long … Continue reading →

Rexie Artieta says our discussion of Louisiana cuisine brings to mind this tale: “In the early e_SSRq 60s, my dad, Milford Thiel, was sent to Melbourne, Australia, by Exxon. “He was there for about six months before the rest of the family could join him. “Needless to say, he was about … Continue reading →

With the success of the University of Louisville basketball teams (both men’s and women’s), we’ve been hearing a great deal about that school, and that city, on TV and radio. Every time I hear some announcer say “Louie-ville,” I recall my visit there for a national columnists’ conference several years ago. We were … Continue reading →

The following story by Marsha Reichle reminds me of the national burger chain whose breakfast menu only included grits in the winter. Another example of Nawthun folks just not getting it: “When I worked for the Department of Commerce I took advantage of a continuing education class. “The presenters were big guns … Continue reading →

Dear Smiley: In spring, a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love — unless he is a golfer. Then his thoughts are consumed with the Masters Golf Tournament. To a golfer, the Masters is Mecca. To play just one round of golf on the Augusta National Golf Course is a lifelong … Continue reading →

When I hear the word “philanthropist” I think of some well-dressed person in a fancy office writing checks to worthy causes. I do not think of a bunch of scruffy old hippies, like the guys who make up the Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana. But these folks, who put on the Spanish … Continue reading →

Years ago, I started getting jokes from a guy who called himself “Lou Clou.” They were corny, but I’ve never shied away from corny stories. I later found that Lou Clouatre was not only a joke teller but a beloved high school math teacher, who made math fun for his students. Sadly, his career … Continue reading →

On Saturday, Baton Rouge will lose a 52-year-old Mexican eatery (and drinkery), La Fonda Restaurant & Lounge on Airline Highway. My friends who drink tell me that in addition to authentic Tex-Mex cuisine, La Fonda served a very special beverage, which they called, I believe, a “Margaret.” There are tales of customers who went to … Continue reading →

Thanks to Virginia Grenier for passing along a little story that’s going around Facebook. I’m not sure about the author, but it seems a nice idea: “We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend and give our order. While we’re approaching our table two people come in and go to the counter: Continue reading →