Some tales are so old that us modern folk rushing around in our busy lives,

constantly looking at our phones, we don't pay much attention to them. But something I've come to realize

is that old doesn't mean gone. And the vicious, most vile beings from the bowels of folklore are still very capable of

rising from whatever Hell Cave they've been waiting in and unleashing their mighty sadism on us all. Even though we have

Wi-Fi now. One of those creatures in particular keeps me up at night, a feral beast called

Ruggaroo. I learned about this particular monstrosity just last year. I was in New Orleans for the

Mardi Gras Baganale and I decided I needed some peace and quiet as the

festivities were winding down. I spent my last evening in town at a smoky blues club

soaking up the sweet sounds of what my whiskey on the rocks had convinced me was the

smoothest voice I'd ever heard.

After the singer set, I approached and paid my compliments, even bought him a drink.

His name was Frank, and he was grateful for the booze. Said he was giving it up for

length the very next day and wanted to have his fill while he could. I'm sure I

nodded along politely but I was losing interest fast.

Small talk about religious traditions doesn't really do her for me.

I'm what my grandma would have called a skeptic,

when what she really meant was a heathen but she was much too polite for that.

Sensing my skepticism Frank assured me that Lent is much more than tradition and observance. It's all about sacrifice and learning

how to do without in a world where so much temptation is right there at our fingertips.

Frank hesitated then like he wasn't sure if he should say what he was about to say.

He decided in favor and uttered in my family, observing Lent keeps Ruggaroo from sniffing you out.

What's the Ruggaroo, you might ask? I sure as hell did. Well, Frank told me there's a thing that roams the swamps of Louisiana. This abomination is part wolf, part human. Some might consider it a werewolf on account of that, but Frank assured me it was much worse.

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