025 Anniversary

25--Hooray!

This is our 25th blog posting!

We started with a joint column and then each of us has written eight. Who knew?

I love to celebrate anniversaries—big and small. Not only do they break the tedium of days, but also let us commemorate our accomplishments.

It may have started with my mother who loved to throw surprise birthday parties. Even though my sister and I sort of expected a surprise party, our birthdays were always special.

We returned the surprise for my parent’s 40th anniversary. With our husbands we flew to Florida and shocked them by showing up at a restaurant where many of their friends had gathered. My mother and I sat and cried while everyone else was enjoying the party.

We celebrated the library’s 80th anniversary in 1993 during my first year as director of Handley Regional Library. Some great young volunteers recorded people’s memories of the library. When we began writing the library’s history in anticipation of its centennial, many of those who shared memories had passed on. We were blessed to have their recollections for the book.  

Another anniversary I particularly remember was the ten-year anniversary of the opening of the Bowman Library in 2011. We had a contest for the child born the closest to the opening. It was great to see those ten-year olds who had grown up with the library. I might have shed a few tears during the festivities . . .

Of course, the library’s 100th anniversary was extraordinary.

We had been working up to it for five years so we thought we were tired of celebrating. But we were not! 

We had John Handley's portrait beautifully restored.  The centennial history was finally finished--thanks to the hard work of many. We had a great reunion of former library staff members and directors. I cried. 

Then we had a fabulous centennial celebration. It was amazing—from the wonderful 1913 costumes that many folks wore to the musical groups on every floor—we had a ball. 

The staff took bets on whether I’d cry, but I don’t think there were many bets on no tears. I surprised them and me—and not cry!

There will probably be a torrent of tears in 2021 when Harry and I have our 50th anniversary. I am already thinking about the best ways to celebrate!

Trish