The name I call myself is Pit Pony. This is because sometimes I feel as though I’m working in the mines. I go down to where the coal is being busted off the mine walls, and return to the mine surface, pulling a fully loaded cart. It’s always good to see the sunlight. I’m fed well, so that the next day I might have the strength to do the same thing again tomorrow.

That’s what I think. Most would say that my situation isn’t that dire and they most likely are right. But lately, I’ve been wondering just how long I’ll be able to pull the cart. I know from experience that keeping a positive

Becky's horse

outlook is going to see me through this, as will focusing on the progress I’m making in my ongoing struggle to keep the book project going.

Getting the downstairs space was a turning point. It isn’t much space, and I do have to go down a set of stairs and through two doors and outside in order to get to the two rooms where the books are located.

Bill built the shelves and Pete put together the Banker boxes. Me, I have been lugging books from upstairs to downstairs. I’ve also been sorting and categorizing the incoming books. On Saturday a fellow dropped off 30 or so boxes of science fiction. I groaned, seeing the load. This fellow had taken great care in bagging then boxing the bags of books. And the books are all in excellent shape. Pete told me on the car ride into town this morning that it was good the man wasn’t a smoker. It hasn’t happened yet, but when it does, we’ll have to have the books shredded. A terrible thought, for sure.

And so today I repacked the books in smaller boxes and put them on the furthest most shelves. It took quite a while, but there was more floor space once I was done. I also put the packing boxes in Pastor Sarah’s office. She’s going to be out of town for a few days, so I won’t have to immediately relocate them.

Two very good friends who I haven’t seen in years showed up at the Senior Center today. Maybe, just maybe we’ll rekindle an old friendship.

My friend Becky came today and gave me an assist cleaning books. I’m going to start asking other people if they’d like to give me a hand. Yes, maybe it’s possible to have multiple pit ponies pulling the cart.

I am planning on packing the boxes with children and young adult books and then sending them to Barrow. This will be next week, after Friday’s open house.

After I was done cleaning up, I realized that now the basement room and the theology room are very hospitable and inviting spaces. People will now linger. They’ve been doing this downstairs. I had moved a rocker out of the theology room, into Sarah’s office. Now I’m thinking that I might move it back in there.

Maybe the analogy would be better if the pit pony was pulling a load of books.

Next: 40. 2/9/23: Trudge, Trudge