The best dispatches that I write are those in which, beforehand, I don’t know what I’ll say. For some time, I have been writing in the evenings – and so all day I think of what I’m going to write about. By evening, I have forgotten.

What remains at the day’s end is a series of images. Sometimes one comes to mind, and I elaborate on it. Images are the basis for narratives. Today, not one in particular, but several images came to mind. They are now, as I write this, resurfacing.

On the home front. I have spread at least half a truckload of gravel in the horse pen. It has hardened nicely – of course it has not been raining – the surface feels solid, and at the same time it feels like it has some give to it. I says to Pete, if we were not as judicious as we have been about cleaning the manure, we’d have a real mess on our hands.

Sassy

Another image – Hrimmi rolling in the gravel on the ground outside the horse pen. I was tempted to get down and roll with her.

I did go to the Palmer Senior Center today and put out books. It was a good day distribution wise – the books were better than average, so the take was better than average. Those who take books are no dummies.

Bonnie always shows up with her decorated walker, and today was no exception. She also color coordinates her walker with what she’s wearing. Lots of orange and fall patterns today. She was wearing a black cap, with a beaded front – she said that Anna over at Body and Balance had given it to her. She also had a lapel pin that in cursive, read Jesus.

This is the image that came to mind. Bonnie brought along a second hat, a witch’s hat, which she gave to Mario. He wore it the entire time he was there – and had a smile on his face. His wife Mary kept exclaiming, “I don’t believe he’s wearing that hat! I will never forget seeing this.”

And there were all the goods on the commodities table – the first thing that caught my eye were several containers of Rock Star. Rock Star is a high caffeine drink, really high. I don’t know if all the seniors know this. I told some in the commodities line that drinking this shit makes it possible to touch the ceiling.

Another image – Taylor, very tall, very hefty, taking all the beautiful art books that I’d set on the table.

Another image -- several clear plastic swag bags full of Halloween books, ready to distribute at Mat-Su College on October 31. Pete says that I’m going to need ten boxes. I don’t have ten boxes of Halloween books, so I am going to start adding Christmas books to the mix.

Another image, of the pink sky at dusk. So good to come home. So glad that I do not live in town. How did I get so lucky?

Next: 286. 10/18/23: Tired and Wired