At the beginning of last week, I thought that it would not be humanly possible for me to get all done that needs to be done. There was no light yet at the end of the carpal tunnel. I was still doing home chores. I also had a long list of BLBP things to do, the most important thing being the books to villages project.

My BLBP workweek began when I first did my distribution route – right now it includes The DMV, the Borough Building, the Palmer High School Pool, Alaska Family Services, and the Family Treasures Thrift Store (the latter supplies us with books).

Books headed to villages

I next drove to U-Haul and opened storage locker 1459. There I sorted through the two pallets of books that came to us from the Alaska Native Language Center and began sorting and boxing up the books that were going to Gambell School, located on St. Lawrence Island. They wanted and they are getting Siberian Yupik books.

From there I went to Thrifter’s Rock to pick up books. Surprise; they had three shopping carts full. I started out by sorting the books categorically, into boxes, but when I ran out of boxes, I filled the gaps in between the boxes with books.

I unloaded the books at the hotel the following day because I had fallen behind on home front chores. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are now a blur. This verifies a truism -- there are no more down times at the hotel. Wednesday, for example. I first went to the dentist and on the way back to the hotel, I dropped off books at Colony High School and the pool.

Pete and I later attended a Zoom meeting with Jessie Burbank who works at the Mat-Su Health Foundation, so as to fill her in on our progress and also to make a funding request. I counted – during the course of the meeting I leapt up seven times in order to talk with individuals who each had a differing request.

I concluded my portion of the conversation with Jessie by saying that we have an urgent need for an additional staff person, which is someone who will assist me in all phases of this project. Jessie, who is very supportive of our project, agreed. Requests beget requests – Pete is now working on his pitch letter to the MSHF and at the same time working with Jenn on a letter of inquiry to the Alaska Department of Education.

I made calls to villages and did some fundraising on the all the above days. Additionally, I talked with BLBP Board Member Terry Porter who, having the fundraising big picture in mind, has now taken the lead in this campaign.

By Friday there was still quite a bit to do, and I was feeling anxious. Fortunately, I received assistance on both Friday and Saturday. Terry recruited a new volunteer, Alex, who along with his girlfriend Kalley will spend the next two months in Palmer. Kalley, for the next two months, will be doing an externship with a local equine veterinarian.

Alex sorted and cleaned fiction and nonfiction books, then gave Pam Meekin a hand in getting nine suitcases of books ready to go to Nome. Most were from Title Wave. I put them in boxes. Pam and Alex stamped and cleaned them. Pam Huyck and I finished up the job on Saturday.

Pete put shipping labels on boxes of books on Saturday, and he and Alex loaded them into our truck. On Monday he’ll give Pete a hand taking them to the Palmer Post Office loading dock.

Robert cleaned and sorted books and took the recyclable cardboard and discarded books to VCRS.

Pam and I finished packing up the suitcases Saturday afternoon. On Saturday evening, Pam and I dropped off the cookie platter at the Palmer Senior Center. I felt good about this because it was yet another form of self-promotion.

I began getting ready to go to Nome and Elim on Sunday morning. Pam H and Pam M are going with me. Somehow, that which did not seem possible became possible. Of course, I am now (because I have to) thinking about when I get back. I hope That Mt. Spur doesn’t blow and that Sastrugi doesn’t give birth because Pete is going to have enough to deal with on the home front.

My BLBP priorities will change when I get back. I’ll focus on coordinating the spring and summer events, and resume working on the BLBP literacy program. All this, in addition to my regular BLBP executive director tasks. Fingers crossed, that between fundraising and getting a MSHF grant, that we can find an assistant executive director.

Next: 82. 3/24/25: There’s No Place like Nome, Except Perhaps Nome