Shot to hell. But it was a good one. Down for the count, two more to go, then a cleanup day. All done. Finished. Complete. No other words. And it will have been a successful fair run, with one caveat. I did not reconnect with my horsey self.

Today I watched the children’s gaming events, pole bending, donut eating, modified barrel racing included. I was so impressed by the stalwart equines, mostly ponies, who seemed to watch out for their riders. And the riders were kind and confident.

There was a costume class – all the costumes were made with care and none impinged on the horses’ vision or movement. One of the best was a horse wearing a striped blanket, perhaps a zebra motif, and carrying two riders and being led by a third. The horse was so obliging.

So yes, what I saw filled me with great joy. And I thought, if I can hang in there just a few days, then I can reconnect with my horses.

And this now looms like a distinct possibility. The book project, if the fair activity is any indication, is doing well. We had (for example) volunteers giving an assist today, and it seemed to me that they had a high degree of investment in the project. And as I realized, a dark cloud that settled over my head when I started this project is lifting. There are those who will continue on now if I have to bow out.

I had wagon pullers today and was able to back off heavy lifting. I need to do this. Otherwise, I will run myself into the ground.

The addition of a new staff person and an intern is energizing the BLBP.

I lost my wallet last night in an attempt to fill the gas tank at the Tesoro Station – and tonight I found it in a box in which I was tossing odds and ends. Relief.

Maybe next year we’ll get to go on a horse trek – and get back in time for the fair.

I did it. I had nearly enough theme books on hand for all the fair days. I ran short today but no matter. Other books now suffice.

The sheer amount of detail involved in orchestrating this is mind boggling. No one has thought of it, but I have. I am obsessive compulsive. This has not occurred to anyone because my behavior is acceptable. I’m getting books into the hands of appreciative readers rather than, say, picking lint off of fleece jackets.

I wish it wasn’t fall going into winter. Another month of summer would be a good thing. Well, at least I’m not obsessing about the sheer numbers of hunters out on vehicles on the trails. Every second vehicle on the road is a truck pulling a trailer with one of these miserable conveyances.

As Edwin R. Morrow often said, “Good night and good luck.”

Next: 238. 9/6/26: I am Still the same old Me