By Dr. Jacquelynn Simmons
My Dear, Dear Children and Possibly Elders,
This old lady is referring to you as my children due to the disparity (difference) in our ages. In fact, as a long time retiree, I probably taught some of your parents, parent-parents and some of their parents, also.
My first husband, now deceased, and I were among the first group of married couples to populate this newly-built neighborhood. We purchased our homes due to sale of lots by my first cousin, the late Gregory Hobson, the first principal at Berg Jones Elementary School in Monroe, LA. Evidently, he choose mostly newly married college graduate couples many of whom who had chosen education as their occupational skill. The only building in this neighborhood during that era was Carver Elementary School, which was transferred from New Town Grammar school’s building, presently known as the United Theological Seminary, and located on Texas Ave here in Monroe, LA. All of our surrounding areas were open cotton fields, and we were “glad” that we did not have to work in them, as did some of our ancestors.
Our main thoroughfare was Orange Street on which there were holes almost deep enough to swallow a car-that is, if any of us recently college graduates and newlyweds owned at least one.
The mayor, during that time, sent letters to some of us informing us of a tax that was instituted for those of us who resided next to our main thoroughfare, Orange Street. Interestingly, we were being taxed to pay for the Street’s upcoming paving. Therefore, those of us who were “forced” to pay for its paving can “kind of say”, we own a portion located next to our houses, one hundred and fifty feet from front to back. To travel further with this discourse, we can determine who can travel to and fro on it (big grin-just teasing).
Even though our neighborhood is much improved in other areas such as churches, schools, lightings, city bus services, etc. we, who are accustomed to our neighborhood quietness for almost sixty years, are now being tormented 24/7 by the thundering noises emitting from some of your vehicles. This terrorizes us to the extent that we have difficulty meditating, praying, studying, sleeping, and doing whatever we choose to do within the sanctity of our homes.
You are forcing us to listen to your favorite tunes and vehicle noises, which are innumerable and frightening as our homes shake, and are giving sensations of being victims of bombings during air raids.
By the time we “kind of” settle down on the result of an earlier tax, more and more and more and more of your thunderings of music arrive in your vehicles and force us to accept whatever you have chosen for us to accept.
My children, please adhere to the plea of an old lady who is closer in age by the grace of God, to live almost a “C” in years. Please lower your desired tunes and other loud gadgets to the volumes which you enjoy in your vehicles, ONLY!
May God bless you and yours with special favor.
Thank you very much for bringing tears of joy and peace to me, other elders, and …
Love, Jacquelyn Simmons
P.S. Listening not to hear you. Thanks!
