This is the year of the fire horse. I want it to last as long as possible. I wish it would go into next year because I don’t think that I’m going to achieve that all elusive balance this year. Winter is fast approaching and the days are getting darker. Also, next week (I think) will be daylight savings time. Yikes. Into the tunnel we go, like it or not.

Another day of working very hard. I distributed books this morning. First stop was the Palmer Pool. I observed that there were a lot of cars in the parking lot, and the only spot that was available was close to the fire hydrant. I decided to chance it. I parked, took a box of books into the building and noted that the place was heavily decorated with balloons. Little kids wearing bathing suits were running around. The group, who were doing a fundraiser, had put up their baked goods table in front of the bookcase and put their coffee pot on top of the bookcase. Grr, grr, grr. I got down on my hands and knees and put books on the shelves. I decided to forego putting more on the shelf. I just wanted to get out of there. I was bothered by the fact that they had blocked the bookcase, but I let discretion be the better part of valor by making a clean getaway. Grr, grr. Grr.

I did my route – (which contains ten stops) all within a five mile radius. I wish I was bicycling it. I got to the former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel at 12:30 p.m. We are to open up at 1:00 p.m. So I went into the back room, because I thought I had some time, and I began cleaning up. Low and behold, ten minutes after arriving, two women from the Palmer Senior Center found me and one wondered if I had any Bibles. I showed them what I had, but it wasn’t the right sort of Bible. For shame. And at the same time, the massage therapist who works across the street came in and got books. Twice, I told her that we took donations. She parted company with $5.00, which these days is nothing. I hate giving books away to people who are either unappreciative.

Next, a new volunteer showed up – nice person – she got a rather piecemeal tour because first Harrison from the North Star behavioral center came in with four bins of books and took four boxes. Then Shelly, the wife of Ricky, a new board member, came and took three boxes for distributing in Wasilla.

I spent considerable time unpacking the bins. Then a couple showed up with about 20 boxes of books. Micah, a board member and librarian, appeared and went through the Alaskana books and set them aside for the Mat-Su College library.

Lots of books, lots of books. Lots of books. But books will be ready for tomorrow’s volunteers to deal with.

Next: 275. 10/18/26: Bittersweet Times