In yesterday’s dispatch, I problem solved – using writing to figure out what I’d say today in the Mat-Su Orchestra concert introduction. Some may think that it was off the top of my head. No, I gave it serious thought then used writing to organize these thoughts.

This morning I wrote a brief outline of what I was going to say, but of course I couldn’t find it when I needed it. But by then this didn’t matter because I already had my outline in my head.

The pre-concert morning – Pete and I returned to the former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel, and we finished putting the remaining items – mainly the materials for story time – in the car. There’s always something missing and at the near very last minute Pete says he needs string so he can tie up the banner.

He met me at the Glenn Massay theatre, and at 1:00 p.m. Corey, who is in charge of the theater, let us in. We quickly unpacked both cars; one area was for the story time activities and the other for the concert stuff.

Pete and I did get assistance – our volunteers showed up and put things like T-shirts out on the tables. And we had a story time reader.

People I knew and didn’t know started arriving. I greeted them in between tending to things, like hanging up our two posters. Some were old friends and some were new friends.

I finally went and changed my clothes. I wore my lucky Kuspuck.

The path to the stage takes a very circuitous route. I had Nan Potts take me there. I waited in the wings and listened to the Children’s orchestra, and then the adult orchestra warm up. It was a string instrument orchestra with one percussionist.

I gave the talk that was on the previous page. I went with the above mentioned outline. Later, the conductor said that he didn’t understand the concert caboose until I explained it. I was glad he said this – I just figured it out myself. It’s an all-encompassing metaphor. You can’t have a caboose unless you have a train and this train consists of all the various non profits in Palmer who are working hard to create a more literate community.

I think that the Bright Lights Book Project is on the forefront of this effort. We are just going to keep doing what we do so well.

The items that we had acquired, and were categorized, were auctioned off at the conclusion of the concert. This was the hard part of the event for me because I am not adept and in fact becoming less adept at administrativa. So Pete and Miss Alyeska gave me an assist. And it did go smoothy enough.

After this, and the door prize raffle, we hobnobbed with everyone for a bit, then after they left, we put everything out of boxes back in boxes. Done is done, I said, to which everyone agreed.

Next: 108. 4/20/26: Slop and Glop