"In Dallas for the premier of '9 to 5,' I had an uncanny experience, and on the plane home to Chicago I confessed it to Siskel: I had been granted a private half hour with Dolly Parton, and as we spoke I was filled with a strange ethereal grace. This was not spiritual, nor was it sexual. It was healing and comforting. Gene listened and said, "Roger, I felt the exact same thing during my interview with her." We looked at each other. What did this mean? Neither of us ever felt that feeling again. From time to time we would refer to it in wonder."
— Roger Ebert, Life Itself

Dear Imagination Library Graduate,

My, how time flies. It seems it was only yesterday when your family and friends read you your first story. You were just a baby. Now you're five years old and about to go to school. How exciting!
This may be your last book from my Imagination Library but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.
I hope you have a great time in school. I bet your school will even have a library where you can check out books. You and all of your friends are very special. There is no limit to what you can do or how far you can go.
Just remember the lessons my family taught me - dream big dreams; learn everything you can learn; and care for all those who care for you. You do all of these things and you can be anyone you want to be.
You are terrific, and remember...

I Will Always Love You,

(signed)
Dolly

image

<image of two flashlights on a carpet pointed at a wall; the left flashlight is giant and has less intense light while the right flashlight is tiny and has a very intense light>
Left flashlight is labelled “Das Kapital by Karl Marx”
Right flashlight is labelled “9 to 5 by Dolly Parton”

Picture of a Dolly Parton's biscuit batter peach cobbler frozen dessert.

A man dressed as Spider-Man attacking Jake Lang, who's cowering behind a large white cross

Color photo of a chaotic scene. In the center, a person in an elaborate Spider-Man costume is reaching towards a heavyset white man in plate carrier and sunglasses, cowering behind a white cross made of I think foam-core. Other people are watching and reaching for them. There's an American flag and two classic protest placards partially visible.

a radar detector like device flashing "THIRSTY"

slide view of a low-slung, big-nosed red sportscar resting in stark contrast to the mountain sunset behind it.

a swimmer grins broadly at the camera

a hand holding a takeout box with a hot dog offensively jammed diagonally into the top of a bun. Sad and lonely dollops of ketchup and mustard sit in the corner, apparently punished for daring to exist near this abomination.

Close-up photo of a small blue and orange bird clinging to a stick; its beak is terrifyingly long and sharp for its size.

An open suitcase with lit neon tubes glowing shades of red, orange, green, blue, and yellow.

<screenshot of a social media post>

Michael Harriot
@michaelharriot

Here's a quietly wonderful thing I noticed:

If you talk to someone who was in choir or band at a majority Black HS, you'll eventually discuss those annoying fundraisers for uniforms, instruments, etc. & a SURPRISING number will casually say:

"Oh, Dolly Parton paid for ours"

10:00 AM • Oct 6, 2022

a close-up view of a pink-bubblewrapped electronic device on a blue surface. A prominent circular sticker reads MADE IN CANADA and FABRIQUÉ AU CANADA in red around a red maple leaf.

Aerial shot of a large painted skeleton, in shoes and holding a phone; pink brains are flowing from the skull to the phone