One Book One Rosemount essay contest winners

Talk about it

More than 150 entries were submitted for the One Book One Rosemount essay contest. In the book Moon over Manifest the main character finds a cigar box full of trinkets.

Writers expressed their creativity by answering the question “What would you put in your memory box and why?”

Prizes were awarded to the first, second and third places winners in three age divisions during an event to meet author Clare Vanderpoole Tuesday. Devin Beck won the 12 and under age group. Jade Tutewohl won the 13 to 17 age division and Marian Brown won the 18 and over.

Here are the three winning essays.

Devin Beck- 12 and under

If I had a memory box, it would be filled with the most important things I own. I would fill it with things that represent me, with my hopes and dreams. If I had a memory box, it would be filled with my little treasures that only mattered to me.

My memory box would be a Lamborghini Aventador with no engine. Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved cars, especially fast ones. It would be Racing Orange, with white stripes, and chrome rims. I think this is the coolest car in the world, and I hope that one day, I might be able to drive one.

Under the hood is where I would put the things that matter most to me, the things that drive my life, like an engine drives a car. The first thing I would put in there is my Bible. I am a strong Christian, and I do everything for God. Without Him I would be nothing. Next to that, I would put a picture of my family. My family is always there to support me. I could be sad, or mad, happy, or glad, but my family will always be there for me. I love being with them, and spending time with them. The final thing I would put under the hood would be my baseball glove and a baseball. I love playing baseball. It is my escape from all the bad things happening in my life. Baseball is everything to me. It gives me joy, confidence, and pride, and after baseball, I always feel better.

In the driver’s seat I would put things that represented my hobbies. I would put in my sports card collection first. When I was 6, I started collecting sports cards. Baseball, football, basketball; I had them all. Collecting was something my dad and I did together, as he collected sports cards when he was a kid. I always felt happy when I found a “rare” card. I love collecting. I would also put in my pin collection. It started when I went to Cooperstown, NY, and I still am adding to my collection today. My dad and I hope to go to every MLB stadium together and get a pin from every one. The other thing I would put in the driver’s seat would be my fishing pole. I love fishing, even if I don’t catch anything, and I have even got my little brother into fishing, too. Fishing is something I enjoy doing with my whole family.

In the passenger seat, I would put pictures of the places I have been to. A picture of Hawaii would be first. I went there with my family and it was the most beautiful place on Earth. When I become a father, I am definitely taking my family to Hawaii. The second picture would be of Alaska. I went on a cruise there, and it was breathtaking. The mountains, the animals, the snow, everything about it was amazing. The next picture would be of the Baseball Hall Of Fame, in Cooperstown, NY. The history of that building, and of all the baseball players in it, just makes you feel awestruck.

The trunk, I would leave empty. I have only lived twelve years; there are plenty more adventures ahead of me. Every time I had one though, I would add to it, until the day I died.

Jade Tutewohl- 13 to 17

First, I would put a pair of pointe shoes in my memory box because it represents my love for dance. The second item I would put in my memory box is a golf ball because it shows that I love to golf and I enjoy spending time learning how to golf with the help of my dad. The third item I would put in my memory box is a candle because it shows that I still love and care for the important people in my life that I have lost. The fourth item I would put in my memory box is a piece of sheet music representing my love for piano and trumpet because music takes me to another place in this world. And finally, I would put a picture of my family in the memory box because it stands for how much I love and care for them.

The items that I would put in my memory box mean a lot to me because it shows what kind of person I am and what’s important and meaningful to me. My family means a lot to me and I am very grateful to have such amazing parents who are able to help me with whatever I need. They pay for me to dance and my dad takes time out of his busy schedule to take me golfing and teach me how to become a better golfer. I still think about the people who I have lost in my life and I think of how much they have impacted me and made me want to be a better person. All of these items mean so much to me and I hope someday I can make my own memory box.

Marian Brown- 18 and older

When I was approaching my 80th birthday, I asked my family to give me a party instead of the usual checks and gift cards. They agreed with, “Get your stuff together so we can make the posters.” You know the posters? – the ones they had made for each of their children as they graduated from high school.

I went into my cedar chest and trunk and found items I did not remember I had. After the party I decided that I should have a box of material that I would like my family to display at my memorial service. I hope that does not occur for fifteen or twenty years.

The first item I will put into my memory box is my baby book. I did not remember my mother giving this to me several years ago. Among many interesting things I found in it were the names of two of my grandparents. This was important to me because I have wanted to do a family tree but as I am the oldest living member of my family, I did not know how to start. Now I have two names with which to begin. That family tree will also go into the memory box. Other items in the baby book will be interesting to my family and friends who attend my memorial service.

When we made memory boxes during a One Book One Rosemount activity, I found paper covered with butterfly designs on it. Butterflies are my emblem because it took me a long time to come out of my cocoon. I covered a small box with the paper and in it I will put the many pins I earned for 4-H projects and later for years as a 4-H leader. I will also put in the charms I earned in TOPS for keeping off the weight I had lost for ten years and more. The highest award I was given in a Toastmaster Speech Contest is a medal and it, too, will go into the butterfly box. This box will then be one of items placed in my much larger memory box.

My Girl Scout uniform goes in because the badges I earned are on the sleeve. My high school letter earned for writing for the school paper and several purple ribbons for my very best 4-H exhibits at the county fair are also a very important part of my life and go in.

Of course, my Bloomington High School Diploma, the BS diploma from the University of Minnesota, and the MALS from Hamline University will become part of the memory box.

The rest of the items I earned for various activities: certificate for my election to the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation board and the plaque I received when I finished the term; the certificate for having served on the Dakota County Historical Society board; and the most important, the certificate Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland sent for my 80th birthday. That certificate says I was a very good citizen. All these items make me feel good about myself and will show others the important activities of my life.

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