I hope that I do not fall asleep writing this dispatch. I am tired and of course looking forward to taking a shower and then going to bed. Last night I didn’t sleep well, so I suspect that I will sleep well tonight.

It was the first day of the 2027 Alaska State Fair. There were no blunders on my end, at least as far as I know. Early on, I met up with my friend Cheryl Chapman who had agreed to volunteer. I decided to take her with me; otherwise, she would have had to navigate a bad parking situation. I had a pass for the equestrian area, and also a season pass – she just had a ticket.

If Cheryl had gone in her own car, she would have had to park in the general lot, and had to come back to a sea of cars. Instead, she came with me where I was able to park in the small equestrian lot.

And it was a short walk to the Hitchin Post, where we laid in wait for the anticipated crowds. Hally greeted us. Then she left, and for the next hour and a half it was blissfully quiet.

The equestrian area is adjacent to the larger fair area, so it is like going to a horse stable. The rest-- rides, strange foods, crowds, I don’t have to deal with this.

I thought it ought not be this quiet. I went out and I wrote in chalk on the sidewalk. “Bright Lights Book Project.” Build it and they will come. Oh yes. Parents, en masse, began coming into the wooden cabin, bringing children with them. And the BLBP volunteers started arriving. It was soon a full house.

I could not continue to deal, but I did. Just too many people.

I left at 3:00 p.m. then came back at 5:00 p.m. The evening was much the same as the late morning, people coming to get free books and free snacks. I did read to children, but once again, I saw story time as a foregone conclusion because the children obviously have plenty to distract them.

And the book that I chose to read to them was not an attention grabber.

Talked to people I knew, this late in the evening included Jonathan Hale who I knew as a young horse enthusiast. He now works on his brother’s ranch, with 57 horses. He’s married and has four children.

Also talked with my friend Kelly, who went into great detail about orchestrating her 50th class reunion.

And I watched the young adult rodeo, the barrel racing and the pole bending. I also watched the dressage event. Horsey, yes, all of this was very horsey. I hope that someone appears with an Iceland horse.

Now, at this late hour, the image that comes to mind is that of a small child, walking her small pony in the direction of the rodeo. At one point the pony sped up and she had a hard time keeping up with it.

Next: 225. 8/22/26: My Horsey Life