Louisiana Stories

     It’s World Series time.  One of my favorite times of the year.  I always recall how my Daddy took this week off to imbibe in two of his loves:  squirrel hunting and the World Series. In those days,  the World Series began early in October  (there weren’t divisions) and coincided with the first week of squirrel season. I …

                  A word from Curt After all of these years, it’s still one of my favorite stories. A humorous story with a good lesson. Enjoy! “A $1000 Saddle on a $100 Horse” This story was told to me by my friend Diann Cain Brown several years ago and it is still among …

Listen to the podcast of  “A Father’s Love.”  “A Father’s Love” From the Curt Iles book, Wind in the Pines. The story below always gets two strong reactions when I tell it. First, laughter. That is a good thing. Secondly, many times this story brings tears. Last year, I told it at Delta Downs (in Vinton) to a group of …

  DWW     Driving While White Like all Americans, I’ve been stunned and confused by events of the past few months. Our country is hurting and is extremely divided. It’s easy to deny and ignore it, but that doesn’t make it not so. As part of a national discussion, we need to sit down and listen to each other. It is …

A word from Curt: Emotion The best stories elicit emotion. Sometimes tears. Other times laughter. Even anger or sadness. A good story creates emotion. Today’s blog is a funny story from an unlikely location,  Dry Creek Cemetery. Enjoy. Laugh. Retell.   “Six Foot Deep” in Trouble   One of my ministries is to work with people in selecting their grave …

  A word from Curt Teacher.  There’s no higher calling.  There’s few professions that can influence as well as a dedicated teacher. The best teacher I ever met was Charles Cavanaugh. This is his story.   Professor Cavanaugh’s Best Lecture Nervously I stood in the hallway outside the Louisiana College biology department’s second floor office, waiting to see Professor Cavanaugh. …

This story, from Wind in the Pines, celebrates two intertwined lives:  My father, Clayton Iles, and my dear friend Ricky Gallien. Today marks fourteen years since Ricky left us. I share this story as a simple way of remembering his rich life as well as mourning his loss. I still miss both of them. My Dad and my friend Ricky. …

  A word from Curt Relationships. The longer I live, the more I believe it: everything rises and falls on relationships. This story, from The Old House, reflects that with several memorable stories.   A Bridge Built on Catfish   Driving over the small bridge across Mill Bayou, I’m filled with disgust at the trash strewn in the ditch. Scattered …

If you missed yesterday’s story letter,  click here to read. Erik and Yvonne Pederson had been on my mind all week. Yvonne was buried yesterday in her beloved Dry Creek.  I had the privilege of delivering her eulogy. I had spoken at her husband’s funeral about ten years ago. I described her as “A woman with a dazzling smile who …

A word from Curt Remembrance. It’s a good word. Today, I’m remembering my precious grandmother, Pearl Stockwell Iles. Today would be her 101st birthday. She was MaMa Pearl to me, and she filled my life with love. I speak for all of her wide family.  MaMa filled our lives with her love.     I thought of MaMa Pearl often …

Dry Creek’s finest and biggest pine knot pile in the yard of my friends, Mark and Kari Miller. The following is a short sad story on how I lost my own pile. Earthly treasures, pine knot piles, and 401 (K) accountsx All of a sudden, the February wind picked up and turned out of the south. Instantly what had been …

Today’s blog post comes from our new book,  Trampled Grass. Learn how you can download a free copy or buy your autographed copy at www.creekbank.net This story,  “Misplaced” has been on my mind all week. These words are so pertinent during this time of crisis in Louisiana. I am a refugee torn from my land, Cast off to travel this …

Be Still and Know On a beautiful Spring Saturday, my three sons and I went to work on the nature trail at the camp. As we hiked through the woods with our saw, pruning shears, and other gear, we were filled with the camaraderie of boys and dads in the woods. My youngest son, Terry, who was four, waded through …

    Yesterday’s post concerned the issue of land ownership in Uganda.  If you missed it,  you can read,  “This Land Ain’t for Sale” here.     The story featured in both the podcast (audio) and post (below) is called “The Friendship Lane.”  It’s one of my favourites on the art of getting along. The podcast is a early draft …