Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

Rule 1: Think first, then shoot.  Rule 2: If in doubt, don’t shoot.   lynx liNGks/ noun a wild cat with yellowish-brown fur (sometimes spotted), a short tail, and tufted ears, found chiefly in the northern latitudes of North America and Eurasia.   There are some things that cannot be taken back. That’s a good reason to choose carefully what you …

“Son, there are two things you should never sell: a dog or a gun. You’ll regret it later.” -Louisiana Rural Wisdom Life is full of decisions, and each decision you make is a trade-off. You’ll gain some things while losing others. Seldom in life is any decision “a complete win.” To move ahead, you must necessarily leave something behind. The …

  Appalachian Trail Foot Path   Life is a long journey, and you don’t get where you are alone.   “He was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple to get there.”                             – Comment on a supposedly self-made man Recently, I spoke to …

  DeDe and I are excited . . . and somewhat nervous. We will both return to Africa in September to be part of what God is doing in Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, and beyond. This will be our first trip back since leaving in 2015. It is a great opportunity for us to be part of the fresh work …

Stay Curious Be Amazed Share Remarkable Stories As you end a fine Memorial Day weekend, may I remind all of us that our freedom isn’t free. Generations of Americans died on battlefields and asea to preserve the amazing freedom we have in America. I just finished a week-long hiking trip in North Georgia on the Appalachian Trail (AT).  From time …

Stay Curious Be Amazed at Life  Tell Remarkable Stories A Word from Curt   The 5 books that have most shaped my life. I encourage you to have a reading list for 2018.  I hope you include in this list what I call your Life Book List. These are the books that occupy a special place on your bookshelf and …

A word from Curt   Today’s story will be part of a speech I’ve giving Tuesday night to the 150 Honor Graduates in my home parish of Beauregard. My short talk will consist of three parts: Remember where you came/come from. Remember you didn’t get here by yourself. Remember that this is just the beginning of your journey. Today, I’m …

  A word from Curt: I’m writing an e-book entitled A Pineywoods Manifesto. It’s for my four grandsons (who have great dads) plus the many young men without a positive male role model to teach them the things every man needs to know. You can read earlier chapters at www.creekbank.net/blog.    Roma uno die non est condita. Latin: “Rome wasn’t …

From the upcoming e-book, A Pineywoods Manifesto: Field Notes on the Full Life by Curt Iles.   “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” -Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:10   An Honest Day’s Pay for an Honest Day’s Work In the Louisiana Pineywoods, we believe in working. Many of my friends work in various aspects of …

  We’re (yes, you’re part of this project) writing an e-book entitled, A Pineywoods Manifesto: Field Notes to the Full Life. It’s written to my grandsons as well as those young men who haven’t had a male role model to teach the basics of life.   Yesterday, we talked about how to shake hands like a man.  You can read …

  A Pineywoods Manifesto: Thoughts on the Full Life I’m writing an e-book for my four grandsons. It’s also for young men who have no male role model to teach them these simple but essential life skills. Today’s chapter is entitled “Shake Like a Man.” Shake like a Man When I was a young teenager, Tubby and Agnes King moved to …

A Word from Curt We’re on a journey and our map is: To stay curious. Continue to be amazed at life. Share Remarkable* Stories with our friends and readers.   *A remarkable sound: a dueling duet between a Cardinal and Mockingbird in our backyard. I wonder how we’d react if we’d never heard the songs of these classic Southern songsters? In …

A Word from Curt Last night when the Astros won an improbable 1-0 10 inning victory over the Padres, I wanted to call my Dad and discuss the bizarre ending of the game. But I can’t.  Today, April 8, marks fifteen years since his death. I still miss him. I still think, “I can’t wait to tell that story to …

A word from Curt This afternoon my oldest grandson Noah and I will slip into the edge of Kisatchie National Forest near Woodworth. We won’t have our guns. Turkey season doesn’t open until tomorrow. We’ll be there (rain or not) to look and listen. I’m taking him to the area where I encountered a herd of wild horses last month. …