No giddy up today. Too busy securing the fate of many, many, many books.

The day began with my writing for an hour about writing for an hour. I added to what I wrote yesterday. Now I have a challenge. I could go indefinitely, because the project does seem like Frankenstein, in that it seems to have a life of its own. There is now so much going on that I cannot do it all.

So I am going to write about the importance of volunteers and cite a few examples of how they’ve contributed to the project’s growth. The problem is that this is partially fiction because it isn’t there yet. I also have to go back and include information about Lisa Murkowski’s visit. Other small things pop up during the day, and then, of course, I forget about them. For instance, I am going to go to the visitor/history center and get information on the history of the hotel.

Newly built shelves

The former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel was a mess when I entered this morning. Pete was building shelves, and Robert was giving him an assist, by watching what he was doing. I immediately took off and went to the Amoosement Park where I met up with Kim Evans, the librarian at Swanson Elementary School.

She read several books to a small group of children, and I have to say that she was good. She was animated and often found creative ways of engaging the children’s attention. For example, in reading the book, If Crayons Could Talk, she asked the crayon her name and the name of the children who were present. The children ranging in age from a few months to ten years, were rapt the entire time.

She read for an hour – I thought – it’s quite amazing that the BLBP has so many wonderful books on hand. Our literacy program is in its infancy, and now a handful of individuals are tending to it.

I was so encouraged by the fact that I had good books on hand that in the afternoon I started organizing the literacy shelves, pulling books off of shelves and putting them in like boxes. Behind and all around me were downed shelves and fresh wood. Pete and Anthony (a volunteer) spent the afternoon banging away – this was very distracting, but yes, it’s for a good cause.

I was, after spending time at the Amoosement Park, coming across the parking lot when I saw a familiar face. It took a second to register – it was Alex and his partner Kayli – he had previously done volunteer work and then he and she headed back to Alabama where Kayli graduated from veterinary school.

They were here for the day. She had a job interview at All Creatures, and so they will be heading back to Alabama, packing up, and likely moving back up here.

As they talked, I had an idea. I showed them Sally’s place, on Edenborough Street. It’s for sale. Well, they went back and later talked with one of the owners. And they are now interested in purchasing it.

Next: 181. 7/4/25: One Less Fourth of July in my Life