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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 2015)
8 in other words september3 2015 Library “Memory Garden” By Shannon Romtvedt Walking into the Vernonia Public Library via the courtyard, you will notice a new memory plate with the words “In honor of Faye Millis Sword: Make a Memory Today.” As Library Director I wanted to take the time to tell the story behind these words, starting with a special event that happened in May last year. On May 7, 2014, the library hosted a fundraiser, inspired by the publication of Kala Cota’s poem “Rewind” in the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias. Being a contributor to the book, Kala was authorized to use it as a fundraiser for a non- profit organization and chose the Vernonia Public Library. After a successful event, the library received a donation of over $1,000 from book sales. In an article written by Scott Laird for the Vernonia’s Voice back in April 2014, Kala told the story of her poem and publication: One day an announcement/article popped up on my Facebook page. Somehow this announcement found me from Chicken Soup for the Soul. They were putting together a new book about Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia and all the proceeds would benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Since my mom’s diagnosis and subsequent move into a memory care home, over a year and a half ago I have written many poems and journal entries. This seems to be my way of coping with grief over this sudden and sometimes overwhelming change in our lives. Poetry has become a form of therapy for me. Because Kala’s mother loved reading and spending time in her yard, the librarian (at that time, Jennifer Moloney) and the Library Board decided to put the new funding toward landscaping, creating a “Memory Garden” in the courtyard. Plans and options were discussed between board members, but because of staffing changes at the library, the project was delayed. In March 2015 the Library Board formed a subcommittee to finalize plans for the project and bring the “Memory Garden” to life. Members included: Janelle Cedergreen, Grant Williams, Audeen Wagner, and myself. After consulting Kala Cota with options, the subcommittee purchased an outdoor adjoining table and chair set with an umbrella, two pots and plants, a camera, and landscaping materials to plant and establish a large donation of perennial plants. Plants that were incorporated into the project were originally donated by the Aloha ra th Health Se l Pa r lo ca tio ces vi Na tu ne w n! Garden Club to the Vernonia Community Garden for the Spring Plant Sale. Local Master Gardeners planned out projects for plants leftover from the sale and the library was chosen as a location. Thank you to Master Gardener Linda Perry for volunteering for the library and spending many hours planning, transporting, and planting. Linda Perry, along with the help of a few dedicated volunteers, planted our “Memory Garden.” Over 140 new plants! Between the hot weather in June (when everything was planted) and the City water curtailment in August, the Memory Garden has been put to the test! Summer 2015 has not been an ideal time to put in a garden of any sort. However, we have had many compliments on the landscaping and patrons have been reading and connecting to Wi-Fi in the courtyard. The space is getting more use than ever, which was one of the goals for the project. We want the library (inside and out) to be well used and loved, a place where memories are made in the community. Now that the “Memory Garden” is in place and the project is complete, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who spent time cleaning up the grounds, planning, planting, spreading compost, and watering: Linda Perry, Janelle Cedergreen, Audeen Wagner, Grant Williams, CiCi Bell, Brady Romtvedt, Donna Webb, Jessie Taylor, Stetson Taylor, Steve and Eileen McRoberts, Lynn Fulgham, Marty Van Dyken, Dennis Nelson, Katie O’Shea, Jim Buxton, Courtney Fennell, Caitlyn Fennell, the Vernonia Community Gardens and Master Gardeners, and the Aloha Garden Club. And a BIG thank you to Kala Cota for her creativity and generous donation to the library. Many people came together to make this memory for the library, and at the core of the memory is Faye Millis Sword. In Honor of Faye Millis Sword: Make a Memory Today. MIKE PIHL LOGGING CO., INC Mom’s Memory Garden Our memory is a garden that we must cultivate Planting our life’s crop before it is too late Pulling out the weeds, and letting those thoughts go Reminiscing on the good times, the joy that we have sowed Those well-tended friendships that have bloomed year after year The memories that have faded, though we try to keep them near In the garden of our memories, our family takes up many rows It’s tended with the utmost care and under loving hands it grows The mistakes that we have made are turned under in the dirt In your memory garden you can bury all the hurt Every day is a new dawn, a chance to plant a fresh new crop And if you are so fortunate, the memories never stop My mother has Alzheimer’s, her garden is fading away A little more with every sunset, a little more each day All those precious memories she sowed throughout her life Are slowly disappearing, a mother, daughter, and a wife A memory garden can be fragile when this blight appears Though I have tried to drown it with my many tears I’ve held her hand and prayed that God would make her bloom But there’s no respite here on earth, her memories are doomed The only hope for her garden lies with the Caretaker of us all One day, she’ll be set free, when her name is called The Master of the Universe will restore her as she used to be Her garden will bloom again with every cherished memory. I’m going to walk beside her, this mother, I call mine I’ll tend her fragile memories that wither on the vine I’ll hold her wrinkled hand until every thought is gone And be grateful for the memories that, in my heart, live on. Written with love by: Kala Cota In honor of our Mother, Faye Millis Sword Free Estimates Specializing in Private Timber 503-429-1470 Dr. Carol McIntyre cell 503.789.1268 fax 503.429.0252 Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine 503.429.3928 cccmnd@yahoo.com naturalpathhealthservices.com 758 Weed Avenue Vernonia, OR, 97064 mplogging@frontier.com 1984 mist drive, po box 321 vernonia, or 97064 503-704-7837 sunny2008vhs@yahoo.com
