Today is Dec. 25, 2010, and I am writing this article from my kitchen table. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Several weeks ago, I wrote a story about private money. Private money was money that large plantation owners and companies that employed lots of people printed. These large companies and plantation owners owned their own stores, and their money was only good at their store. If you wanted United States currency they charged you a 20 percent fee for the exchange.

So, you might be wondering how I know about the private money and where did I get the information. Well, the story is that my father Willie Norwood, 92 years old, worked for a large land owner and my mother, Luda Mae worked for the company store. The private money was known as “Bozine.” And this was how all the workers were paid.

Almost a year ago, I talked to my father about the store and the money and nothing else. I wish that I would have asked him a lot more questions, such as my childhood,

his work, where we lived when I

was too young to recall and lots

of other questions that now fill

my mind. You see, I have missed this opportunity to ask these questions because my father died yesterday, Dec. 24th, on Christmas Eve.

My mother had died seven years ago, and we had her funeral service on Christmas Eve. I can’t help

but wonder about next year and my memories of Christmas Eve?

I am writing this to say one thing, be sure to take the time and talk to your parents or senior adults that had influence in your life. They have a wealth of history to tell you and would love to tell their story. Don’t wait until it’s too late to want to know the answers to those questions that have been running through your head but can’t be answered because you did not ask them. May you all be blessed with a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Wayne Norwood is a lieutenant with the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Department and owner and operator of the Louisiana Treasures Museum.