A notch in the bedframe – the notches were originally made by those who had sex with someone. I got to thinking today, for me, it could be having attended another BLBP community related event. There is hardly any bed frame left.

So for the third year running, I got a crew together and we all went to Reading Rendezvous, held in Anchorage at the public library. It went like clockwork. I’d set aside the books some time ago -- approximately 20 boxes. The books had previously been cleaned and vetted. Pete loaded them along with a shelter and other vendor paraphernalia, into the red truck. Robert, BLBP Board President, joined us.

We got to the library, unloaded the boxes and shelter and display boxes and outdoor shelter, wheeled all across the library lawn, and set up at our designated table. This took no time at all. We were joined by Lanisha – all were given bookmarks. At noon, parents and kids tumbled out onto the spacious lawn.

Robert, Pete, and Lanisha interacted with the public, telling those who stopped at our event tables that we had free books. In short order it became a feeding frenzy, with literally dozens of people selecting books. By the end of the event, all the children’s books were out on the table. We did not come home with many books.

A huge surprise, a blast from my past – the reappearance of Ken Waldman, the Nomadic Poet. He was much the same; if possible, even more self-absorbed than previously. He showed me a poem he wrote about Frank Soos; it was quite good. He is a good writer, and works hard at it, I think mostly in hotel rooms.

I told Pete that I was envious of him, having published so much and lived (thus far) a truly Nomadic life. Pete remarked that Ken’s life is not easy – he always has to hustle, for food, for publications.

We also made connections with some literacy movers and shakers.

And I talked with Lanisha, who is a woman with big ideas. She likes the idea of our acquiring the Eagle Hotel. My thinking is now that we should go for this. Pete agreed with me that we are going to have to see what the consultant thinks, and if this is something that we should consider. I think that Pete and I are going to have to wow this person big time. I hope she hops on the bandwagon, thinking that what we are doing and as well what we might do, is very impressive.

We are like the little engine that could – we think we can, we think we can.

Next: 138. 5/19/24: A Conversation with the Three Mares