A Grand Birthday Parade

The Stream of Cars Just Kept Coming in a Birthday Tribute To Hemlock Resident Jane Barnard

On January 14, 2021 at 4 PM—while Jane Barnard watched from the comfort of her daughter Mary’s car—a long stream of cars drove past Jane’s longtime residence (that she shared with her husband Howard Barnard until his death, at 94, in 2012). The line of cars seemed endless (How many cars? 103, someone shouted out) as they wound their way slowly west and turned onto Barnard Road.

They came festooned with the gayest of automotive attire including signs made by Honeoye Central School students and, of course, birthday balloons. Sirens blared, dogs howled, horns beeped, people waved, and “Happy Birthday Jane!” was shouted out open car windows, truck beds, and sunroofs. Looking toward Honeoye, they just kept coming as Jane sat watching, smiling at her many, many friends and relatives who joined in this parade. Following the festivities, birthday cards and a lifetime of chocolates were delivered for Jane to enjoy at her leisure. 

Time goes by, and it seems, as of late, that there has been more change than most of us wish to see (some of it positive; some just adding another layer of challenge to our already busy and complex lifestyles). It goes without saying that the longer we have lived, the more change we have seen. For those who have lived a century, like Hemlock resident Jane Barnard—who turned 103 on January 14th—those changes include most of what we all now take for granted. Inventions in the 1920s included: band aids (1920); traffic lights (1920); insulin (1922); penicillin (1928); television (1927); and car radios (1929). And in 1925, only half of the homes in the United States had electricity (Jane’s was not one of them). Just think of all the other inventions and innovations that have taken place since then. 

For Jane Barnard and others of her generation, simple things mean more than the newest gadgets, especially in these times of COVID-19—simple things like a grand birthday parade. 

Happy Birthday Jane Barnard! 

See also: owllightnews.com/memory-is-a-funny-thing-an-interview-with-jane-barnard/ , owllightnews.com/fond-memories-of-jane-barnard/ and owllightnews.com/jane-barnard-and-barbara-connolly-honored/