A Month Called February

What is it about February? I read this excellent essay yearly on February 1. It’s written by Bobb Biehl. Thanks to Chip MacGregor for sharing this four years ago. Enjoy! Curt February habits Whenever we get past the January “new year resolutions” and starting moving into the February “reality of winter” season, it’s nice to spend a few moments taking …

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In the Wilderness

Wednesday, January 25, 2017   This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. -King David in his wilderness time from  Psalm 34:6 In the Wilderness I’m still learning this: Sometimes God delivers us out of the wilderness, but often he instead chooses to walk with us through it. I guess that is …

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Thinking about Transparency

Transparency is a Good Thing. “But he (Jesus) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  -Paul in I Corinthians 12:9   There’s just something about a fire in the woods. …

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Two Faces: Refugees and Illegals

I never met Tyler Lundin. At least not when he was alive. My journey to learning about his life and death began on a dusty soccer field near the Nile River in Uganda. Africans wear all manner of American shirts and caps.  I always enjoyed talking to them about who the Boston Celtics were, Adrian Peterson’s Vikings jersey, and my …

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Life Lessons from Hog Dogs

It’s a new year. Always a good time to think about the speed of life and balance. This story from my childhood sums up what I’m still searching for: the balanced life.   “Come apart or you will come apart.”  – Vance Havener I come from a long line of men and women who lived in the woods and loved …

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The Tribe: The Most Important Man in Alex

  Welcome to Friday’s The Tribe* Story Letter   The Most Important Man in Alexandria   Always be kinder than necessary. -J.M. Barrie   I didn’t get his name or badge number, but I firmly believe that today—Friday, January 6—he provided the greatest job in the town of Alexandria, Louisiana. The freezing rain began just as his city bus pulled …

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CoCo Harper Lives Again

  From The Old House by Curt Iles “Coco” Harper Lives Recently, they built a new Post Office in Dry Creek. It’s a large modular building complete with glass doors and modern conveniences. Out in front of it, the Postal Service poured a large concrete paving area. However, it just doesn’t look like it fits in Dry Creek. On the …

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Kat King

Current wanted poster in our Alexandria Zip 71307 Post Office. Viewing it brought the following story to mind. A Lady Named Kat To my knowledge Kat King was never featured on a wanted poster, but I still think of here when a see a F.B.I. wanted poster in the post office. It’s amazing how you remember people who are kind …

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“Moving Out” Thoughts on a New Year

    A Word from Curt Grateful. Gratitude is one of my 6+ words for 2017. I’m thankful for the wonderful gifts in my life. Today I’m thankful to have the calling of writing. It’s what I do. Who I am.  I’m thankful that you have chosen to read this blog and allow my heart to hopefully warm your life. …

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Bah Humbug Week Begins: 26th of December

  I love Christmas.  I really do. I’d glad it occurs yearly. And glad it only occurs yearly. I call the week after Christmas,  Dec. 26-Jan.1, “Bah Humbug Week.” It’s a week to recover.  It’s a week to reflect.  I use this week to look back over the past year with gratitude and as a springboard to think about and …

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December 24: Christmas Eve

  An Easy Mark   “I’m a thousand miles from anywhere, waiting for a train.” -Jimmy Rodgers “Waiting for a Train”   Calling someone an “easy mark” is normally not a compliment. We use it in the context of taking advantage of someone and associate it with weakness. I have a story that explains the term’s origin. I’ll let you—the …

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A New Short Story: Our Christmas Gift to You.

Merry Christmas to you and your kin from all of us at the Creekbank. This new short story, “Midnight Chicken”, is our gift to you. May its theme of It is more blessed to give than to receive resonate and bless your Christmas. Curt and DeDe Iles Midnight Chicken   Dec. 23, 1943 Bundick, Louisiana   Elizabeth Miller awoke to …

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Christmas: A Gift from the hands and heart

A Gift from DQ   Christmas is a time for gifts and there are all types of gifts. The best gifts come from hands, hearts and are created from love and skill. As Christmas 2011 approaches, I’m obsessed with a gift I saw last week.  I call it a gift from DQ. DQ. I’m not referring to Dairy Queen. I’m …

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