I did consider having my title read “A Darn Good Day,” but then decided that damn is more declarative. It’s also more fitting because it was a damn good day, darn it.

I sometimes wonder how I can maintain the momentum, but sometimes the momentum maintains me. It is like I’m in the middle of a swiftly flowing river and being carried downstream. I gulp for air before being sucked under. I exhale, pop back up, repeat this cycle. I have to be very careful not to exhale when I should inhale and vice versa.

My day started with my continuing to sort through the books that came in the two days I was in Anchorage. I realized, as I was working, that if I take time off to do something else, that I will have some catching up to do when I get back. This was the case this past week. This is a little discouraging – it is in these moments when I inhale when I should exhale.

Meggie Aube, a percussionist and the President of the Palmer Arts Council, came by the hotel at 11:30 a.m. and we chatted for a bit. She’s open to our partnering, maybe first doing a few events, and perhaps later on orchestrating a capital campaign. We’ll see. I am going to go to a PAC board meeting in May – the arts, this may open creative doors that right now in working on nonprofit advocacy are closed to me.

I went back to work when Maggie left, finishing sorting books and getting the place back in order. I also distributed books and put up our fundraising fliers. And before setting out on an adventure, I collated the BLBP material that I was to pass out at the Swanson Lake Elementary School poetry reading.

I had this material in hand when I entered the student gymnasium/auditorium. My getting a front row seat was fortuitous because I could see all 65 students, wiggling in their chairs and Kim, who was in charge, could see me.

Kim dedicated the event to the Bright Lights Book Project and told the audience members about what it is that we do, adding that it was amazing that we’ve been able to find appreciative readers for so many books. I was really touched by this.

She told me after that she took the day and talked to each and every student about their role in this event. This was in part why it went so well. The children, one by one, got up and recited a poem or sang a song. It began with a preschooler singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and it ended with a second grader reciting a poem that was several lines long. In between, the children went up to the microphone (adjusted to their height), took deep breaths, and gave voice to what they’d spent considerable time rehearsing.

After, I passed out bookmarks and fliers, then Kim got several boxes of books that we stashed in my car.

Lastly, it looks like in two weeks’ time we’ll have a new bookcase in the Koslosky Center lobby.

Next: 107. 4/18/25: Make Hay While the Sun Shines