And no one is happier or more optimistic than I am. It’s dark at 4:00 p.m. I have been driving home from the historic Eagle Hotel at about this time. I do not like doing this, particularly the turn onto the Glenn Highway. I also don’t like the glare of the oncoming headlights. Now in a week, just a week, that extra minute is going to be one that I will take advantage of.

Our friend Becky, the head gardener at the Alaska State Fair, she usually has a solstice party, but not this year, too much wind. She lives alone in an off the grid cabin – she does have friends and might stay elsewhere. I’ll know in the next few days what’s up.

My goodness – what another day it was. I got to the Eagle Hotel and met with just one volunteer – Lynda, who has MS. She’s always bright and upbeat and cheerful. Today was no exception.

So once Lynda left, I spent the better part of my day cleaning up – post event activities require that I put things away, which I did do. This took four hours, then I had to get ready for this evening’s event – the postponed Colony Christmas parade. It was two events in a row.

Pete finally showed up and we went to the Koslosky building together. I wasn’t in the mood at all to do this, a second event in two days, and as a matter of fact, if Pete hadn’t showed up, I would have headed home. That he did show up meant that he’d lighten the load, which he did.

Last night we watched the movie Superman. It was a remake of a remake of a remake of a remake. I was majorly disappointed because it was so violent and the narrative was driven by special effects. It got harder and harder for me to follow, and so I gave up. Pete, now, he was rapt—and not at all phased by the violence or the sheer lack of a cohesive story line.

Our views about this movie differed radically. I finally decided not to expect for him to feel the way I felt about this movie. Once again, I had to be an adult – and most of the time I am not good at it.

So it was with all this in mind that most likely tired me out. And again, I did not feel like going and passing out books. But I knew that Pete would make this easier and he did. The crowd was smaller than in previous years, but many were receptive and listened as I told them about the project. I enlisted the assistance of friends who passed out books. And I have to say that this event was almost fun.

Next: 341. 12/20/25: Tomorrow is the Solstice