It was a good day all day. I did fret quite a bit about this particular day because there were so many transitions involved, most involving other people. You never know when you are at their behest.

I spent a part of the morning packing my belongings. Had to leave the leaky Therm-a-Rest behind – didn’t want to, maybe didn’t have to, but in the end it was one less item to force into the itty bitty stuff sack.

I’d let Pete pack my backpack, so I wasn’t sure if I could get everything in it. I also wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get the cot out of my tent – Larry wedged it in there

Bookstore at the literacy council

really tight. Yee oww. I got it out by twisting off the metal legs and taking down the tent. It then slipped right through the opening.

Next, I played a non-scoring, non-competitive game of Bocci ball with Marry and Larry. You throw this little white ball anywhere you want and then attempt to hit it with two wooden croquet balls. There are many rules – I enjoyed getting the white balls in the vicinity of the white ball target.

I enjoy playing croquet – and I enjoy bocci – other ball type games – uh uh.

We three then sat on the deck and watched the boat traffic on the Chena River, including a near accident. It’s a motorized river – you don’t see canoeists or kayakers out there, moving along quietly. I saw a duck that was nearly caught between two passing boats. Once again, I think that we are due for a major bitch slapping from mother nature.

And there were so many fighter planes out there – I don’t buy it; they are training to protect us. Build up a strong defense and the offense will feel compelled to take it down.

I got in one final trip to the horse barn. A really nice, relaxed setting, and good people. Glad to have spent time there, but I do appreciate having our horses on our property.

I arrived at the Literacy Council of Alaska in time to get Christina Jones her two boxes of children’s books. I could not tell if she was happy. She may have been bothered by the fact I was late. After, I met with Lucie, the Executive Director – she was quiet – I did the talking, asking her as many questions about the Literacy Council as came to mind. My vision now includes their vision – yes, it may someday be possible to have a storefront bookstore. Pete says we should involve Fireside Books, which is an equally good idea.

Then, after a pit stop, I was taken to the airport by Mary. The check in and TSA processes were really fast – no lines. And the plane, after everyone was on board, left on time. The flight itself – I got the window seat (which I wasn’t supposed to have) because a nice woman gave it to me. I do better when I can look out the window when its bumpy, which it was.

I could only think – one hour, a half hour, fifteen minutes, separate me from again being stress free. And I thought, I did today what this morning seemed an impossibility – I made it home safe, having gotten done all I’d hoped to get done.

Next: 144. 5/26/23: Back in the Saddle Again