Driving to work Tuesday morning, I saw on my windshield two black bugs who seemed rather closely entwined — yes, the first love bugs of the season.
No doubt the folks in the car wash business are ecstatic, but I was more dismayed.
Our never-ending battle with the insect world in this part of the country reminds me of this tale from Phil Hannaman, of Tyler, Texas:
“On a recent trip to Baton Rouge from our Cajun outpost in east Texas, we began to relate stories from the past.
“Recently, I was cleaning up the yard and was attacked by a horde of red wasps. Only one got me, though, since I am still very nimble.
“This inspired Mom to tell a story about my father Cliff’s attempt to remove a HUGE wasp nest under an eave near the kitchen window.
“Dad devised an ingenious plan. He wrapped a rag around a long pole and dipped it into some kerosene, lit it and stuck the lit rag on the nest.
“Mom’s job was to spray the Flit can from the kitchen window, to kill any wasps that were not burned up.
“Of course, the Flit can was never used. Imagine that!
“Mom recalled seeing the swift-running Cliff going down the driveway into the street, swatting the wasps flying around his head.
“Fortunately, he was not harmed and the house didn’t burn down.
“Mom was fully entertained, even to this day.”
Howell Andrews says, “We should thank Al Bethard for enlightening us about the statue erected by the Baton Rouge Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Hebe, cupbearer of the gods, who kept their cups filled with nectar, a delicious blend of fruit juices.
“Most of us in the community were under the erroneous impression that Hebe was the goddess of wine.
“I can relate particularly to the story, because I have never developed a taste for fine wines.
“I am, however, particularly fond of nectar, especially when it is mixed with rum, vodka or gin.”
Joel d’Aquin Thibodeaux continues listing old sayings that don’t mean anything to younger folks.
For instance, “She was vaccinated with a Victrola needle.”
“It means she talks a lot. A Victrola was one of the first record players.”
And Gene Thibodeaux says an obsolete saying is “Who wears the pants in your house?”
“It meant, ‘Who is the boss of the house?’ But both genders wear pants now.”
Jess Walker says, “The recent item about the 92-year-old Denham Springs bowler which concluded that it makes it difficult for anyone to say ‘We’re too old to do that’ reminded me of a somewhat similar thought sent me by James Payton, to wit:
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”
Mattelynn Franklin says Lauren Hoft, a biological engineering student at LSU, is in Our Lady of the Lake “with very serious injuries from a head-on collision.
“She is still fighting for her life, and her family have set up an ongoing blood drive to help with the medical expenses.
“Be sure to mention that your donation is for Lauren so that the credit is applied to her account. Donations must be given at Our Lady of the Lake to count towards Lauren’s medical expenses.
“If you cannot donate blood, there is option for cash donations via the link https://laurenhoft.giftcards.com/cp/group_gift_donations/index/981.”
The Baton Rouge Blues Foundation’s inaugural Blues Gala will be held Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Capitol Park Museum.
It features “live blues and the best of Baton Rouge cuisine.”
Tickets are $35, and include a year’s membership in the foundation.
For tickets, call (225) 274-6902 or go to http://www.facebook.com/BRBFGala. Tickets are also available at Caffery Gallery, 4016 Government St.
Elizabeth Hubbard says, “I would like to give a HUGE thank-you to Pam with the Motorist Assistance Patrol for her assistance with my flat tire in the early morning hours of Monday. She was a great help. …”
Barbara Maranto, of Watson, says, “My daughter Candi took my grandkids, Colby and Kelsie, to the movies last week. While watching the preview of an upcoming dinosaur movie, Colby, 9, turned to Candi and said, ‘Momma, were dinosaurs still alive when Nana was little?’
“I was born in 1945. I’m pulling out the photo albums on his next visit to show him we had cars, schools and many other ‘cool’ things when I was little!”
Write Smiley at Smiley@theadvocate.com. He can also be reached by fax at (225) 388-0351 or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
Copyright © 2011, Capital City Press LLC • 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810 • All Rights Reserved
Print article