2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Adults

A Slice of a Day

How it is difficult to maintain a peaceful mind.

A deli in the afternoon. I finally get to my turn to order as a man saunters in and goes, “A meatball sandwich with extra sauce.”

A pause.

 “Let me have a panini with turkey and swiss cheese,” I order.

The man turns and looks at me and says, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“It’s ok.” I smile… but am I really smiling?
 

Speeding Ticket

The State Theater performance ended at 1AM. My lovely spouse asked can you get home in 15 minutes. On Ryders Lane I picked up speed. Turning into our driveway a police car also pulled in. The officer remarked going a little fast, where were you coming from. My response The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is a Halloween tradition. Leaving he laughing said next year slow down. Yeah, no speeding ticket!

Hiking 101 (Zoom)

Join us at 7 PM on Tuesday, July 27 for a virtual introduction to hiking! President/Owner of Northeast Mountain Guiding Joey Vulpis will introduce us to the basics of hiking. This will include the 10 essentials of hiking, what equipment you should bring--backpacks, trekking poles, footwear, etc., first aid kit information, search & rescue considerations, and trail etiquette.

New Normal

“Two days!”, thought Ruby frantically. She woke to a text to book a flight back home that leaves in two days. The pandemic had arrived and panic set in.
“How can I possibly pack my family’s life into eight bags?” Ruby said, madly sorting their things.
Two days later, Ruby and her children rushed through the airport wearing a new accessory – a face mask. Little did they know this was their new normal.

 

Surprise!

Maggie swore Chris was cheating on her. She just knew it. And near her birthday no less. He suddenly went to great lengths to hide his cell phone. Stepped outside to answer it. When she managed to sneak a peek one day, she saw a missed call from “Lindsay.”

“Hi Chris! This is Lindsay from Elm Street Bistro. Great news, our restaurant is available on June first to hold your girlfriend‘s surprise party!”

Inner Beauty

Touching her hand to her neck, Jane thought, “The necklace must have fallen off while I was taking my walk.” As she retraced her steps, Jane was careful to stay away from the sketchy looking guy covered in tattoos. She swore he was coming too close to her.

Adam, the man with the tattoos, picked up his pace. After all, he wanted to ask that woman if the necklace he found was hers.

Comforting Home

Fragrant memories of Wonder Bread toast cut into the shape of a peaked roofed house comfort me still. First painted with cream cheese and then appliquéd with Welches graped windows and door. Another of my mom’s loving creations to enticed me into recovery from the measles. “Open the windows and door by devouring them to let the germs escape.”

Today’s memory house is salty. It marks fifteen years since Mommy died.