Letters to the future were written this week in Palos Hills.
The Green Hills Public Library District asked community members to ponder their lives, their pasts and write their hopes, their news, their habits and even their favorite slang and media from today, all to be bottled up in a time capsule and opened in 25 years.
The project was part of the library’s America 250 celebration on the 250th birthday of the United States and a way to preserve a bit of local concern, hope and habit, said Olivia Mullenax, the adult programming librarian.
More Top Picks Why Glossy White Paper Makes Reading Harder
“We wanted to bring everyone together and have a chance for the community to be reflected in the celebration,” Mullenax said.
About a dozen people turned out to Amos Alonzo Stagg High School Wednesday to do some reflecting, along with Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett and Hickory Hills Mayor Mike Howley. Later, the classic rock cover band Blackberry Jam played a set.
Mullenax said there’s no date yet on when the library will seal the capsule, so if anyone would like to drop a letter by the library, they still can. She said some people have also asked the library if they can donate things for the time capsule.
“I had someone from the Palos Hills horse association ask if they can donate horse equipment,” she said.
It’s all welcome. The whole idea is mostly to reflect the today’s community in a quarter century.
“I think the purpose of the library is to bring our community together and have it reflected, and we wanted to do that with the time capsule,” she said.
One resident, Laura Lipkie, said she was excited to drop off a letter and said she’s looking forward to being around in 25 years to open the capsule.
“Twenty-five years from now I want to know what I was like 25 years ago,” she said. Lipkie said she’s mostly hopeful for the future.
“I am hopeful,” Lipkie said. “I am hoping to be a grandma. I have two daughters and I wish I had a son so I’m hoping to have a grandson.”
Lipkie is also a nurse and said the hard times of COVID 19 are still strong memories with her, so she included those thoughts. She said she is hopeful that’s not forgotten or diminished in 25 years.
She said she’s already met younger nurses who weren’t in the profession during the pandemic, and don’t know firsthand the strain on healthcare workers.
“That’s what these nurses say nowadays, COVID was no big deal,” she said. “My letter is talking about how scary it was during COVID.”
More Top Picks Best Compressor Pedals
Not just the experiences on the healthcare staff, she said, but also a concern the lessons will be forgotten.
“I just hope people still get their vaccinations in the future,” Lipkie said.
This sort of hope mixed with worry was a common thread. The mayors, spoke of hope as well as their fears and worries.
“I write this letter with an optimism of our country’s future,” said Mayor Howley. “Democracy is never easy but it’s worth fighting for. … I hope our leaders hold it dear.”
Mayor Bennett, of Palos Hills, has been in office 45 years, so he’s seen the community change and grow and said he was concerned with a growing decline in civic engagement. He said his hope is that people will still be engaged with their communities.
“Contribute something to your community,” he said. “Be a good citizen.”
He said because more people are choosing not to be engaged, they’re choosing to stay home on election days.
“You have that right every election to choose your leaders to make our choice who you want to lead your country, and as voter turnout gets worse and worse, well, you have that right to choose your leaders. … Exercise that right. Help us build a better nation.”
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.