Fifteen years after first meeting Ernest Gaines, interviewing and reprinting to publish a Gaines short story, with teacher's manuel for Lafayette's first One Book community read, The Daily Iberian Teche Life Editor, Vicky Branton was able to get a picture with the legendary author.

Reviewing the year in pictures is not easy to do, yet regularly for editorial reuse involving an upcoming event, scrolling through an electronic memory lane is necessary to find just the right representation. Almost at the four-year mark as Teche Life editor, the collection of events, stories of residents and visitors to the Teche Area is a delight to revisit and a mystery — Was it really so long ago?

Today’s photos are a selection of favorite people and events from 2018, but not all of them. A few made the cut, others did not because of space limitations — and two were of people who asked that their picture not be put in the paper. One was at Mary Pesson’s girls’ night out at Paul Schexnayder’s gallery. She can choose to share it or not.

The other was a lone black man wearing a Superman “S” T-shirt in Bouligny Plaza during one of the patriotic remembrances sponsored by the Iberia Veterans Association annually. In the distance was the American flag being raised by uniformed veterans and boy scouts — all Caucasian. He was an active-duty soldier serving in North Carolina on leave. He thought the memorial would be a nice thing to do, but didn’t want any attention.