Lifestyle

Happy 2026! I’m still not sure what happened to 2025. I blinked and it was gone. The holidays have had our schedule at the paper, and, indeed, in general, all discombobulated. I wanted a lot of Christmas pictures, but I think everyone was slow in posting them for me. Y’all have to do better! I want to see some family photos.

Whenever I think about this time of year, the first thing that I think of is a song from 1972 by Alice Cooper called “School’s Out.” Back in 1972, Alice Cooper was “out there.” I mean, he was the example of what you DON’T want your children to be. Now, he’d be kind of tame. Or at least more normal. Anyway, this song keeps blasting in my head.

Briarfield’s Kindergarten class graduated.

Prom! Prom! Prom! That was the theme for the last couple of weeks, which also gave me the opportunity to pick up some pictures of some good-looking juniors and seniors. First of all, I want to acknowledge and congratulate the Colonel and His Lady which were one of several awards presented at Briarfield’s prom. This year’s Colonel & His Lady were Jack Martin & Madeline Condrey. Other senior awards were Colonel & His Lady Runners- Up: Brock Johnson & Malli Tatum; Who’s Who: Bryant Smith, Malli Tatum, Caroline Miller, & David Bailey; Class Favorites: David Bailey, Jack Martin, & Val Dukes; Most Athletic: Ryder Jones & Aubree Jones; Funniest: Ryder Jones & Madeline Condrey; Biggest Flirts: Samiyah Flores, Madeline Condrey, & Brock Johnson; Most Likely to Succeed: Carrie Beth Miller & David Bailey.

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Good morning, East Carroll Parish! Today is National Burrito Day. So go find you a Mexican restaurant and celebrate …. Or not. Some interesting things did happen today in history, though. President George Washington was honored with a Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard University in 1776. In 1860, the Pony Express started delivering mail for the first time. In 1882, the outlaw Jesse James was shot and killed. And in 1953, TV Guide published its very first issue, with Desi Arnaz’s and Lucille Ball’s son, Desi Jr., on the cover.

Last time, I wrote about enjoying a walk to the Bastille Circle in Paris and along the Coulee Verte Rene-Dumont, marveling at the abandoned elevated rail bed that’s been repurposed into a beautifully landscaped public greenway.