Some people are concerned about having it all. I am concerned about doing it all. This has been my life-long goal, and I am coming to the realization that I won’t do everything that I’d like to do.

When I was very young, I thought that I might become an Olympic figure skater or a gymnast and of course compete in the Olympics. I also thought that I’d ride a horse in the Kentucky Derby, and win. And oh yes, I’d climb Mt. Everest.

I also presumed that I’d be a writer of great renown.

Ariving in Palmer

None of these things (I am sad to say) are within the realm of possibility. You have to start training for a career as a skater and as a gymnast. And you must ride in many, many races in order to go into the Derby starting gate.

I haven’t discounted climbing Everest. I’d first have to go up Denali, which is a stone’s throw from here. I guess this would be an instance of who you know since you don’t just get all your equipment together and go for it.

Reading Arlene Blum’s autobiography was an eye opener. Seems like at least one person died on all the major expeditions that she was on. And she was close to them all. Getting mowed down by an avalanche is not the way to go.

I haven’t given up on the thought of becoming a writer of considerable renown. I do think that my ace in the hole is Shelf Life; the problem is, that story is still ongoing. I’d have a good ending in resigning, but I can’t seem to do this.

I never, ever thought that picking up a few books would end up with there being a full-blown program, and that I’d be running this program. As I tell people, I have plenty of stories. Today the four other BLBP Board members and I went over a prioritization list that I came up with. Nothing got prioritized, but by the conversation’s end, everyone present had a better sense of the Big Picture.

And I never dreamed that I’d own three Icelandic horses. Nor did I foresee that I’d be training for a competitive trail ride on one of our horses and that Pete would be training on another one. I am still wanting to do a long-distance horse trek with one, two, or three of them. I dunno know about doing the Trans Canada route. It’s not a through trail.

Being the ahem executive director of the book project has tied me down. And acquiring two dogs, three chickens, two goats, and three horses has also rooted me. I remember many years ago, the husband of an academic remarked that neither Pete nor I had a taproot. This was when we were travelling a great deal. I was proud of this statement. I am not proud of my taproot. It’s an albatross around my neck.

Perchance to dream. From Shakespeare.

Next: 198. 7/20/24: A Damn Good Day