Alaska Scottish Highlands Games was golden

This past Palmer weekend at the Alaska Fairgrounds was PERFECT. Absolutely everything was interesting, well planned, culturally grounded, and delightful. This annual festival is quickly becoming the Favorite of the Year. Watching the athletic competitions, dancing, and singing was rich. It’s hard to pick a favorite part of the show…but the Denali Stones, Cabers, Tug O’ War, Blacksmithing Booth, Celtic marketplace and Jade, the Highland Cow were terrific. I might add that it was really good to see all the kilts back in Palmer.

Humanity in Action—This is a true story and it happened quite suddenly at the Alaska Scottish Highlands Game festival. You won’t read about it anywhere else because it was tiny, unanticipated and an essentially silent episode. It lasted only about 45 seconds but those 45 seconds proved goodness in our world.

Many people were walking around the beautiful Alaska State Fair grounds during the festival. There were large families, couples, kids with parents or aunties, and (just like at the annual Alaska State Fair) the walkways became crowded. Nobody was running. It was more like the State Fair shuffle, calm but steady.

Suddenly a young boy found himself alone and separated from his group. He didn’t cry or yell. He just stopped abruptly, and put his hands to his head in a terrified manner. His fear was clear. Within seconds, unrelated grown-ups, mothers, and fathers saw his paralyzed expression of alarm.

And what happened next was the amazing thing. Without speaking, all these strangers spontaneously encircled this terrified child and protected him in an unscheduled sandwich of love. We just stood there, keeping him safe. Very few words were exchanged during the entire time. Within just a few more seconds a frantic family member found their lost little one, safely embraced by community. I saw this too and participated without being told what to do. The instinctual care and unpracticed choreography was practically holy.

Summer Snow—At 10:36 on Thursday morning it snowed in Palmer. White flakes were floating throughout town in blizzard conditions. It was actually a combo of a dandelion fluff hatch and a full shed of cottonwood trees simultaneously. From any window you looked out, large lazy white flakes were bouncing around the yard, the trees, and the sky.

Discipline Demando—There are many parking lots receiving fresh sealcoating and striping in Palmer. They go from a dusty hodgepodge of grayness into a stark black and white, rigid, well defined space. It’s quite a reset for drivers. First of all, the formalized parking areas announce in a gruff voice—NOW you MUST DRIVE correctly and park politely, exactly between the bright white lines. Secondly, your car nor wheels MUST NOT BE DIRTY. The newly painted parking lot screams directions at you…”Improve Yourself! NO GOOFY or CREATIVE parking here.”

Art Show—Palmer is in for a treat with a July 5— Art Show Opening for Maureen Kelly at the Art Cafe located at 131 E. Blueberry Ave. Maureen paints with abandon and her pieces are full of “Flowers and Faces.” She has traveled around the world to study with various art teachers on locations. All of these various mediums and methods show up in her latest exciting paintings!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group.. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222.