Sonya Schryer Norris

Ramadan 2020: On the kindness of Muslims

I have beliefs about God that I have held from childhood. They’re not just internalized beliefs; they’re how I filter the world around me. Many of them are expressed perfectly in Islam. My faith in God often brings me joy, but more than that it brings me steadiness. Among God’s comforts are that I canContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2020: On the kindness of Muslims”

18: I am the Snake Lady Librarian

I graduated in Detroit on a sunny, May day with hubby and my mother in attendance. I bought a new coral dress for the occasion, we got hubby a matching tie, and I got a wrist corsage. Aunt Charlotte did indeed haul three cakes from Lake Erie for the family party. She also did theContinueContinue reading “18: I am the Snake Lady Librarian”

17: Cataloging grades

The Cataloging Swan Song: Grades. For those of you numerically dedicated… my cataloging final netted me 2 tenths of a point above the class average. I got an A- in the class over-all. A hard-earned A- and one that I am proud of. As proud as this gentleman. Shortly after the class, a Real CatalogerContinueContinue reading “17: Cataloging grades”

16: The story of the cross-continental trip in three vegan vignettes

The trip was an adventure. Let me tell you the story of our country as I experienced it that spring in three food vignettes Nebraska We stopped just into Mountain Time in Oglala, Nebraska and went to a restaurant that served Mexican food and, importantly! given our road-weariness, beer. My vegan traveling companions asked, “AreContinueContinue reading “16: The story of the cross-continental trip in three vegan vignettes”

Ramadan 2020: On Heaven

At the Islam 101 classes I’ve attended for the past year, a new attendee asked me if I believe in heaven, and what I thought it took to get there. I walked through the five pillars of Islam. I talked about fasting even when it is hard. I talked about paying charity because it isContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2020: On Heaven”

15: Cataloging final exam panic

On the night of my (early) cataloging final exam – my Very, Very Last Thing To Do In Library School – I nearly had a panic attack. I studied for two hours the night before the exam, and two hours the night before that, and two hours the afternoon before that. And yet I wasContinueContinue reading “15: Cataloging final exam panic”

14: Cataloging fact #5: It provides nursing home insurance

During my last semester of library school, I helped friends move from Lansing to Portland, Oregon. This required taking my Cataloging final six days early. It earned me nursing home insurance. Let me explain. In order for my friend to arrive in Portland in time to start her new job, we had to leave onContinueContinue reading “14: Cataloging fact #5: It provides nursing home insurance”