GiGi Amateau

August 2008

What I'm Thinking About

In Celebration of Sue Gregori, School Librarian, St. Gertrude High School

On the first day of the school year -- the very first day back to the ordinary world of rising and working -- our girls found out that, suddenly, they had lost their joyful guardian of the extraordinary world of wizards and vampires; moors, moats, and empires; technology, and ideas. Like so many school librarians, Sue Gregori welcomed everyone into the world of the library with loving, open arms and a gentle spirit. Mrs. Gregori believed passionately that there were no limits to where the library could take us; she escorted many a student through complex, challenging, and stimulating tasks and discussions. Our girls are better people and better prepared to make the ordinary world extraordinary because of her life.

The Mockingbird

True, the mockingbird is the state bird of Mississippi (Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, too). Yes, the mocker can be pretty comical, or maniacal, once it gets to singing. Absolutely, the white wing and tail bars against the smoky gray body make for an elegant, distinctive look. These are all fine reasons to become a big fan of the mockingbird. If you need just one more reason, look no further than American poet, Mary Oliver's, The Gift. (Visit your local library and you'll find The Gift in Oliver's collection, House of Light.) To learn more about mockingbirds visit Cornell's All About Birds site: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Mockingbird.html