There is a glow missing at Ruston's Starbucks.

                                                                                                                                                                 That missing glow is Deena Marie Ferguson.

I have been a regular at Starbucks for over twenty years. For the last eleven years I have been a regular at the Starbucks in Ruston, Louisiana.

A wonderfully happy and pleasant part of my visits to Starbucks has been greeting Deena. Deena has been the Manager. I was told the other day that Deena will not be back.  I am sad about that. It is sad to walk into the place and know that there is not a chance that I will see Deena.

I an a 1950 Mechanical Engineer graduate from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. Several years ago I wore my Cal Poly alumni cap to Starbucks. Deena exclaimed  to me that her son was an engineering graduate from Cal Poly. Almost makes us family, huh?

Deena is a marathon runner. A few years ago I attended a marathon in West Monroe that she ran in.
Here is a photo of her before that race. I posted two blogs on her heroic run. The blogs are in the Prune Picker blog archives. Search for Dirty South Marathon.

I know that Deena reads my blog. "Deena. I love you and I am going to miss you. I wish you the very best".

She said; "I have full blown alzheimers"

It was a relief to hear these words from Rosa. Now I could talk with her about this sad fact. I touched her hand and told her I was sorry. We spent an hour talking about death and friends we have seen die from this terrible disease. Rosa said that did not mean she was going to die tomorrow.

We sat close together (so I could hear her) and looked out into the yard. We visited a long time. We have previously told each other the story of our lives several times. I have dementia so we are like cousins. We had similar childhoods in some ways.

I suggested that we go to Olive Garden and have lunch.

We had a good time.

Feeding hogs in the Piney Woods of North Louisiana.

I rode shotgun this morning for John Morgan Adams. He wanted to bait some hog traps with yummy stinky corn. He wants to train the hogs to enter the trap. In a week or two the traps will be set to trap any hog who enters to eat John's corn.

The traps are in a 500 acre deer lease that John participates in. The lease lies south of Arcadia along Jot-um-down Road. John wanted to bait his traps and also stop by the deer lease camp to pick up some scrap wood.

Like experienced hog hunters we stopped at Gap Farms to have a delicious sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit. They are gourmet!

John opens a gate into the lease.

Thick piney woods.

There is light at the end of the tunnel.

John baiting trap one of two.

John is walking into the location of trap two. The traps will be full of hogs soon.

Gate and road to the camp.

The fancy main building.

Pond view from the porch.

This is the location for sighting in your deer rifle.

Hello? The camp has TV?

One of the extensive collection of out buildings.

A camp boat.

John and I had a busy morning. Ready to head home. It is not easy to be a hog hunter in the piney woods of North Louisiana/

No swimming for awhile!

My lower left arm is swathed in a wound bandage.

A sweet dog (Rusty, alias Waffles) was so happy to see me that he jumped up and his sharp paws tore up my arm. I am still very fond of him!

My poor arm. Must be kept dry and clean until healed.

I attended a lecture on Lee's Louisiana Tigers.

The lecture was delivered by Terry L. Jones, Ph,D., Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He has authored a couple dozen books on the Civil War. His latest book is on Lee's Tigers. Terry has been a member of a Sunday School class, in West Monroe,  taught by my son in law, John Morgan Adams, for many years. Therefore, you must know that Terry is an expert on the Civil War and very knowledgeable on Christianity.

Infantry troops from Louisiana served in Lee's Virginia army. They were 12000 strong at the beginning of the war. at the surrender there were less than 400 left on duty. Due to their fierce conduct in battle and somewhat wild behavior off duty they were nicknamed the Louisiana Tigers. The LSU Team Mascot is a tiger, named after the Civil War troops.

Early Commanders of the Tigers were of French Military background. They adopted the uniform of the French North African Berber Zouaves soldiers. One commentator said the uniform was the most distinguished of all the Civil War uniforms. That is the most understated comment I have read lately.

I and the large crowd enjoyed the lecture by Doctor Jones very much.

Friday night soccer game.

Pleasant evening last night. I watched the Lady Techsters win a soccer game with LSU-ALEX. I am looking forward to the Techster's first league game Sunday afternoon. Here are some pics of last nights game.

Fine looking group of soccer players!

Here is a 12 second time-lapse video. Sorry most of the action is at the other end of the field.

Ethan runs a two mile cross county.

Ethan Newberry is my oldest great grandchild. It was exciting to ride out into the country and see him run. I am so proud of him. He runs so smooth!

Ethan had lots of running room when he finished the race. He was number 5 out of that bunch of runners.