ANNA MONICA / L’Observateur / June 9, 1999

This is not a spruced up, decorative back yard as so many are. There is no deckadorned with healthy green plants, no fancy tables and chairs or fountains with trickling water.

The once popular rope swing the children and grandchildren enjoyed is now gone.

There is, however, a flower bed or two, and some flowers have been planted under large trees which have been there for some time.

The yard gets really sandy during dry months for the lack of grass growing there and for the ever presence of the family dog, Sam. Before Sam there was Dee Dee,Linus and Nila, among others, so the grass really never had a chance to grow. Butno one seems to notice or care. There is always so much activity in thatbackyard anyway.

The backyard belongs to Gloria Borne of Garyville. Now, a wooden swing, a giftfrom her children, gets the action when her clan congregates for a special occasion or for just a lazy afternoon or a Sunday visit. Its “no frills” appearancemakes Gloria’s backyard look like a typical family backyard of long ago and invites nostalgia as to when life was a little simpler, automobiles weren’t as plentiful, Nintendos and computers were barely a thought, having 25 cents to spend could delight a child and people always knew and liked their neighbors.

Even today it overflows with children, grandchildren and a great-grandchild coming in to visit “Grammy” to either tell the story of a recent adventure, bring in her groceries from the store, sit and visit or to get something to eat. Withcooking as her favorite activity, Gloria never lacks for people to eat, and she doesn’t mind feeding anyone.

There is a constant stream of people coming through the backyard and walking up to the kitchen door, which faces it for lunch or dinner or the traditional afternoon coffee. Often, they end up sitting on the steps or on the swing in thebackyard.

Standing in her backyard, Gloria quite often shares news and conversation with neighbors over the fence. But this simple yard has also been the scene ofmemorable events, too, such as a 50-year wedding anniversary, and more recently, a family gathering after R. J. Borne’s funeral.Fun things like a backyard cookout, tossing basketballs and being with sisters, brothers and families happen there all the time, and almost no one coming through the backyard forgets to pet Sam.

There is never a lack of action, and apparently, never a lack of love in and for this place. It has been utilized in one way or another by each of the Bornesiblings, who today still seem to be very comfortable there. In fact, everyone who visits is comfortable there.

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