Reminiscions

Even though this summer at the library has been vastly different from previous summers, the staff continues to look forward to making it special for residents of the parish.
This summer the staff is giving each young reader who checks out at least two books a “Welcome Back Goodie Bag” with a reading log, an “Imagine Your Story” COVID-19 writing activity sheet and other goodies. The staff is not going to be tracking the number of books that are read but is hoping with the goodies included in the bag children will be encouraged to read all summer long.
For those who write “your story” about “your COVID-19 experience” (or have someone write it for you) using the form included in the bag, and who get it back to your library with a name and phone number, you will receive an extra prize. There is no longer a deadline for these stories to be turned in to the main library or a library near you.
Here are a few examples of the unique stories a few kids turned and who received an extra prize: Genevieve Norris, daughter of Jessica and Seth Norris, and Gabriel and Terryana Jackson, the grandchildren of Terryl and Betsy Jackson.
The following is Genevieve Norris’ story.
“Hi, my name is Genevieve Norris, and I am 11 years old. I’m the oldest of five kids. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and this is my story. Two months ago we were all sitting in the living room around the TV. My parents were watching the news for some political reason. During the breaks little clips of information kept coming on telling us about the coronavirus.”
“I think it was a few weeks later when Momma started watching the briefings about Covid, and we were under quarrintine. By the first month we were all sick and tired of each other, and Daddy introduced me to shares. I bought two shares: one in The Cheescake Factory and one in Mattel. Later it was my birthday in April, but I didn’t get to have a birthday party with my friends.”
“Momma’s birthday was later in April so she got to go shopping with Daddy. Back in February we all got the flu shot, but we all ran fever. We thought it was coronavirus, but when Momma took the anti-body test it was negative. That brings us back to now in my house where you will find me writing this on the couch and looking back on my COVID-19 experience.”
The following is from Gabriel Jackson.
“I feel mad about COVID-19 because I don’t like it. You can’t cough or sneeze without people looking at you crazy. I had to stop going to school because of corona. I wanted to finish school but I was happy to be out. I have to wear masks all the time when I go to the stores and play, when I go to people’s houses and everywhere. I like wearing masks but not while I am playing!”
Terryana Jackson wrote the following.
“What i have experienced about covid-19 is that stores are closing more, and people have to wear mask like say your going to the store you have to wear a mask some people don’t wear a mask. i’m mad about it because i wanna go to the pool but covid-19 is closing stuff like pools, stores, hair shops, and more. That’s all i’ve experienced about covid-19.”
The library is also proud to announce is would like to be considered the “Keeper of Memories” especially because of this precarious time we are living in. The staff has a vintage card catalog that it wants to fill with memories. It is offering the public the opportunity to “Leave a Memory” about anything they would like others to remember about them, their loved ones, or a life event on a form that can be picked up the main library or at a branch near you. The card catalog can be viewed at the main library, but the staff wants to collect memories from patrons around the parish and simply store them there. Additionally, if writing is uncomfortable, one can send in a photo with a short bio of a person, pet, or event. In fact, some folks have already sent in their old library cards because they wanted to be remembered as long-time library patrons.
One example is from Roma Toncrey, who wrote, “My Brother, Gerald Duplechin, was a library board member for Pine Prairie. He passed away shortly after being appointed but he loved the short time he served. December 31, 1949 - June 27, 2015.”
Another example is from Suzy Bulliard Lemoine, who wrote, “I became a member of the Friends of the Library in 1981 and continue to support its mission statement to this day. My personal montra is:
‘Live, Love, and Learn through the rich resources that are readily available in libraries!’ and...
‘Self-education leads to personal enrichment which leads to gratitude and appreciation for all that is born of a single thought.’”
Laura Jane Guillory Bulliard submitted, ‘Un peuple sans passé est un peuple sans futur.’
‘A people without a past are a people without a future.’
A lesson that I learned from spending years in libraries!”
Please call the main library for more information at 337-363-1369.