This has always been my motto. This could be why I hate standing in grocery store and post office lines. Life is too short, I say. I do, when I get caught in one of these lines, fantasize about being rich. For if I was rich, there would be no wait. I’d pay someone who is infinitely more patient to stand in line and make the proper transaction.

I most hate standing in the Palmer Post Office line. I’ll go way out of my way, all the way to Sutton, in order to avoid the excruciating wait. If I have a book in hand, I’m okay, but if I don’t, I must deal with what for me is an agonizing wait.

I also don’t like working for others – their dictates often make no sense. In addition, they generally want things done in a linear fashion. I thought some about this today, as I worked at the Meeting House. I do things in the order that I want to do them. For example, today I first packed up several of the boxes of books that are going to Utqiaġvik. I had a routine, one that I have perfected over time. I grabbed boxes from the kids’ room.

Came across this picture of the Walking Library recently

I returned to the front room, lined up the white tables and put the knife, tape, and marker on my left hand side. I put the box to be packed on a chair in front of me. I lined the boxes, one-by-one, with plastic bags. I then picked the types of books that I thought best for each box, always putting the heavier hardback books on the bottom of the box. I then put science fiction, board books, kids’ books, and adult books on top, taking the time to arrange them carefully.

If you think that I packed up the nine boxes without doing anything else, you are wrong. I instead worked in the other upstairs rooms, taking the time (for example) to sort the books in the children’s rooms – separating hardback and paperback books. I also went and unloaded the car trunk, and after bringing them inside, picked and chose which one’s were going to Utqiaġvik.

In writing the above, I realized that I left out some details. I decided not to go back and fill in the blanks because I made my point, using immediate details.

I was content doing all this, and as well, getting the books ready for distribution. The Meeting House is a good place for this kind of work because I can designate certain areas for certain tasks. For example, on Mondays I put the kids’ books on the long table so that volunteers can clean them on Tuesdays. This week was no exception.

On Mondays I also distribute and then on Tuesdays take what’s left to the Palmer Senior Center. Sometimes I’m under or over. Today I got it just right.

Ohh, I’ll bet that none of my dispatch readers got this far today. Most days, it is hit or miss writing-wise.

Next: 52. 2/21/23: The Crystal Ball