Looking back at the beginning of the day, I can see that a lot did happen. This morning seems like back then, a phrase used to describe the distance past. This was the recent past.

I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and had an early ideas day. It began with me starting to envision what items I might ask for in a grant that would be literacy related. Bean bag chairs. This, at the time, seemed like a pressing item. Then I began thinking about other, related items, like two Swiss ball chairs, which harkened me back to the days in which I was focused on the mind/body relationship. Another item included a standing desk.

Then I got to thinking – my area of expertise is not child literacy. Rather, it’s teaching writing and perhaps adult literacy. The library already has classes like those we are proposing to teach, their audience being mothers and little children.

I want to teach writing classes, one of which would be memory, memoir, and memorabilia. This is where my heart is. If, say, we partnered with the library, my focus could be on writing and perhaps teaching GED classes.

With all this in mind, I sent out a few emails suggesting some of the above. Then I had Pete find me the materials for a sign, that is a stick and a staple gun. I stapled matt board onto the sign at the Hotel, then wrote “Bright Lights Book Project” on one side and “Story telling here.”

Armed with signage and books, I went to the fairgrounds and made my way to the barn being occupied by Kid’s Kupboard. I attempted, with sign in hand, to get the children streaming through the red gate interested in story time, but I had no luck. I then had this brilliant idea, which was to pass out the books in the newspaper box across the way, at Tiny Town, a fenced-in area with little houses and outdoor toys for children.

I did read Yertle the Turtle to children sitting on a bench outside Tiny Town. This, by the way, is an excellent read out loud book. However, the lack of interest of bypassers made me think that I should switch gears, and again pass out books. I had competition with the University of Alaska Anchorage Basketball team players, who were passing out all kinds of swag to the kids.

I left when my book supply ran low. Also, some were damp. I headed to the Mat-Su College cabin where I again did as I’d done before, and passed out books to passerby. When finally, Seina, the Palmer Public Library Librarian arrived, I simply (with sign in hand) let passerby know that she was going to read. This worked.

I spent the rest of the afternoon with Pete, and together we stacked the newspaper boxes. And after, we pulled the recycling center wagons and returned to the processing area with two bags each of cans and bottles.

Yes, a long day. I have no idea what I’m going to do tomorrow.

Next: 231. 8/24/25: Hunting Season