This quote often comes to mind. It in fact, it keeps me going when I am beginning to run out of steam.

Today, when I was at the Palmer Senior Center, a fellow named Glenn grabbed three boxes of books; one box actually contained National Geographics. He then said that his wife would question his taking on so many boxes of books. I said that the way to counter this would be to bring her a book. I gave him a book entitled Home Coloring and he said this was a good choice; she likes colors. I then handed him a coloring book – one in which someone in the front had written in magic marker “This belongs to Natasha.” I then followed Glenn out into the parking lot, and assisted him in loading his finds into his RV.

Alys sorting in the big box

We then went back into the Palmer Senior Center dining hall. Glenn, a very kind individual who watches out for others, then said in a very serious tone that I was working too hard and should chill. He added that if I became burnt out, that I would not be able to continue to do the work I do. By way of example, he pointed to the numerous books in boxes and on the new library cart. I said thank you for the advice and that I would take it into consideration.

This was a specific instance in which the line “Build it and they will come” came to mind. It’s from the classic 1989 film, “Field of Dreams.” The movie is based on a book entitled Shoeless Joe, a 1982 magic realist novelby Canadian author W. P. Kinsella.

The movie plot goes like this: a corn farmer in Iowa, Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) hears a mysterious voice one night urging him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfields, saying "If you build it, he will come.” Further research on my part revealed that in Hebrews 12:1, it says, “We must run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

I don’t know what the two quotes have to do with one another, but the second one stopped me dead in my tracks, no pun intended. Yes, “we must run with endurance the race that is set before us.” My very associative take is this – sometimes we envision things. In order to achieve this vision, we have to work very hard at it, in a very dogged fashion. I say we, that is them being those who we recruit to run with us. In this instance the other runners might be Mat-Su College teachers and students.

Build it and they will come – I’m envisioning a building housing the Bright Lights Book Project. It will be built on the grounds of the VCRS recycling center. And they who will come will be readers wanting books. The prospect of this becoming a reality is, right now, what’s keeping my energy from waning, as is the fact that we are now are eating mostly home grown produce.

Next: 248. 9/8/21: And at the day’s end