The day did not start very well. I had worked hard to ensure that there was going to be entertainment, books, and food at the pre-scheduled event, Leap into Literacy. First of all, last night, I got an email from Molly of Denali’s handler saying that because of inclement weather she (meaning the suit) was not going to risk driving from Anchorage to Palmer. When I mentioned this to people, they rightly said that people from Anchorage don’t like to drive to Palmer, but that people in Palmer have no problem driving to Anchorage. This again proved to be so.

Then I got an email from the head person at Franz Bakery saying that her car was in a ditch, so she would not be able to come today, either. My groan, I suspect, was audible and could be heard in three states.

On the drive to town, Pete remarked to act as though things were just fine if it didn’t go well. This made sense, and so this is what I attempted to do.

Well, the show must go on, and so the show did go on. I had packed everything but a few things for the quarter mile drive to the Palmer Train Depot from the hotel. Pete and I gathered up the few things and headed over there. We did catch the parents who with their kids were leaving the building and passed on the information to them.

Then, when the BLBP partners started arriving, we moved their gear into the alcove adjacent to the main room.

It was then that the fun began. Our partner/representative -- Kid’s Kupboard, The Palmer Lion’s Club, the United Way, the ADD dog service person, and Fireside Books all entered the room and, with assistance, began setting up tables and putting their gear out for the children.

Once we set up, there was a BLBP activity table, a display/information about us, and a book table. It all looked impressive. We brought along hot chocolate and cookies, and tea and coffee; these complemented the Kid’s Kupboard brown bag lunches.

Most impressive – the BLBP activities table. The kids sat down and began doing artwork – I had put out crayons, and stickers, and handmade books, and paper to draw on. I asked and Pete set up a second table.

We also passed out information packets to parents, with everything they’d ever want to know about the BLBP

I spent a lot of time talking to partners who are now friends. This, I said in an email to them all tonight, is what has made this project worth it for me. Without friends I would be hopelessly adrift, on very high seas.

I figured, and rightly so, that we’d pack it up when there were no more children around. And this is what we all did. We did not have the requisite entertainment or food, but this was okay. Everything was okay. A good time was had by all.

Next: 295. 10/30/24: So Many Ideas. So Little Time