All the things

It’s been a robust May thus far. Major city clean up last weekend resulted in truckloads of full yellow trash bags (see pic at top of column)…all collected by thoughtful community volunteers. Through out the month there have been celebrations at every corner. The Tractor parade, bicycle rides, hikes, greenhouse gatherings, bike blessing, airport party, live music on both ends of town, festivals downtown and at the fairground. And this of course is just the beginning of our ultra wonderful summer season. Good spirits are generous and frequent.

Graduation of Palmer High School Students—The big event is Tuesday night May 13. There are 138 Palmer students walking at graduation this year and they have been collectively awarded 6.7 million dollars in scholarship monies. Many of the graduates’ pictures are hanging on light-posts up and down Alaska Street in downtown Palmer. It is of course a ceremony of a lifetime for each of these students. But it is more than that…too. High school graduations are an opportunity for the community to feel proud of its’ youth. Their academics, their sports records, their musical and drama performances, their artistic offerings, their volunteer efforts, their literary and science awards, their growth and outreach into the community are HUGE expressions of talent, dedication, work, and sharing. So as a community let’s celebrate their success. And let’s not forget the hundreds of other students on their way, whether in nontraditional schools, home schools, church schools, job corps, military schools and all the other regional schools. Being a student is their major job at this formative stage in life and let’s support it all we can.

Rain!!—Oh the green up will happen fast now. This is predicted to be the week of rain. And the magical aroma of petrichor and organics will enrich our senses in the same way it enriches the soil. All the dust we have had this spring will calm down and begin its nutrient journey into the earth to nourish the green growth.

Beginning of the Memory Fade—As Alaska thoroughly thaws its way into full blown spring and summer, our memories of winter begin to fade. All those dark days of trepidation over wind and snow and ice begin to lessen in importance. We are in our escalating amnesia phase. With every bird that returns, with every pussy willow and aromatic cottonwood bud, with every longer and warmer sun ray, the winter fatigue melts as well. This happens every year. And in about a month, winter’s severe grip will be a tiny memory. We will celebrate summer for a good 100 days and it will be glorious. But even in this celebration, there will be that little reminder in the back of our minds…..winter is coming. This will translate into plans and schemes but it won’t take full throttle until perhaps August. There is a common phrase, often attributed to the wisdom of our Native, indigenous population, which says, “We are always getting ready for Winter.” It rings true but admittedly we try to disregard and ignore this important directive in these early and blissful days of spring/summer.

Another Special Election in Palmer—This is an another recall election. If you want to know all the details, please research them elsewhere. It’s a fairly complicated explanation that requires steadfast reading to understand it. Simply put, it is an opportunity for Palmer residents to vote No to retain the Mayor or vote Yes to recall the Mayor. Either way, it is your chance to early vote now or up to election day on May 20.

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