Dear Eleanor,

You being my sister, I thought I’d write you a letter. I think about you all the time, so I thought I’d get some of my words on paper, or as the case may be, on paper.

Today, Pete was in the hallway of the Eagle Hotel, talking to a couple who live in Portland. They told him that it’s been very hot there. I just looked up the temperatures for the next few days and saw that it’s going to go into the triple digits.

Eleanor's cat

Here, the temperatures are in the 70s, thus far, weather wise, it’s been an idyllic summer. We got the garden in late, but it was cold in May and early June. Mainly, because of the light, the growing season here is very short and intense, so we lose growing time by waiting for better weather.

Today I pictured you, in your place, somewhat miserable. You are undoubtedly attempting to keep Sally, your dog, cool, and attempting yourself to deal with the unbearable heat.

You are welcome to come here, where it’s cooler. We’d love to have you. You did say that the last time you were here you had to sleep on the floor and that you are too old for this kind of thing. I mentioned this to Pete, and he suggested two options. We can either find you a bed here – we have one in the upper cabin – or we can put you up in the historic Eagle Hotel. We are there nearly every day, so you could come into the former banquet room and hang out.

I’m eager for you to check out what I am doing on the project. We are a year into our year and a half lease, and we have a created an amazing distribution center/shop. Today I went to work early and dropped off books at the Kid’s Kupboard Amoosement Park and Bugge Park distribution sheds. I had a good talk with two women who were sitting at a table and passing out lunch items at Bugge Park. We talked about the current political situation. I am careful who I talk to and about what, but I quickly figured out that these two women were on the left side of the political fence.

I also distributed books at the DMV and the Borough Building.

This morning, Robert, who drives to Title Wave in Anchorage once a week, brought in a load of fiction and nonfiction. He put the fiction and nonfiction on the table designated for this, and the children’s book on the table designated for this.

After he left, I sorted and salvaged the fiction and nonfiction. I then sorted and salvaged the children’s books. Then I categorized several boxes of children’s books.

Pete showed up as I was doing this. He resumed reshelving the boxes of history books. We finished what we were doing at 7:30 p.m. It was one of those rare times in which I was ready to quit before he was.

Tomorrow I am staying put. In fact, I am not going anywhere for a few days. I have done what needs to be done.

Sure hope to see you soon.

Alys

NExt: 181. 7/4/24: A Glum Fourth of July 4, 2024