Another very, very long day at the Alaska State Fair. I’m counting: there are nine more to go. Seems like a lot of days. We are not yet even at the half-way point. For me, the saving grace is that there will be an end to this, and I will emerge with a sense of accomplishment.

Today the race began with me getting out of the gate last. I got to the fairgrounds late because I stopped and talked to two of our partners, both from the Alaska Literacy Program. They are now occupying our back room and making it theirs. This is quite interesting because it became ours after a year of being near empty. There was a granite counter in there. We ended up paying extra rent for the space.

A tea party

It is now theirs. And it is really too bad – they deserve to have more space. Then again, I realize that we are lucky to have the space we have.

I continued on, to the Palmer Senior Center, where I talked with old friends about the future of the center. It does seem doubtful that things will stay the way they are.

I got to the fair gate just a few minutes before the fair was to open, and with a heavy bin in hand, I made my way to the Colony Barn. As soon as the gate opened, people began streaming in. I was kept very busy talking to innumerable people.

The high point of the day was a real surprise. Sharon, who orchestrated the BLBP portion of the spring silent auction, appeared with a wagon full of stuff. She then began getting ready for, I kid you not, a tea party. She had hats and shawls, and tea sets and table cloths, and cookies on a stackable tray, and tea.

I went outside and told people there was going to be cookies and tea in the Wineck Barn. In the meantime, Sharon set up her tea party. In minutes, young and old alike filled the seats and drank tea and ate cookies. I was relieved that there were enough people; I would have felt bad had Sharon gone through all that work only to have to face empty chairs.

She had enough people. They sat down and drank tea and socialized. For those who came through the red gate for the first time, this was their introduction to the fair.

Rebekah, an old BLBP board member, appeared with Jackie and her two twins in an upscale stroller. She and the kids stayed a while. The kids were noisy. The two year olds are now ambulatory, and their parents spent considerable time chasing them around.

Pete finally arrived and we distributed books. I had vegetable soup from Bush’s Bunches for dinner. After, we were packing it up when a couple from Big Lake came to talk to us about their setting up their own satellite project. Pete talked to the fellow, and I talked to the woman, for a long, long time.

I came home – Pete stayed to listen to the music.

I get rested up and I’ll have the energy to deal with tomorrow.

Next: 226. 8/22/25: Put your feet up