Did you catch the storytelling?

It was last Friday night at the Palmer Train Depot. The place was sold out for the 2nd year of Annual Mat Su Untold Stories. The speakers were local and passionate with stories about various roads taken in Alaska or “things that move us and shift us”—either physically, spiritually or emotionally. It was beautiful storytelling, with the audience crying over most of the stories. There were stories about farms, hikes, trains, the bush, small planes. bikes, old trucks with boxes of dynamite and blowing things up down at the river.

The well appreciated story tellers were Carly Schreck, Pat Durand, Denise Statz, Bradley Carper, Mikey Evans, Ira Evans and Michelle Harmeling. Amy Bushatz, is both the organizer of the event and founder of the non-profit Mat-Su Sentinel. Daily she reports news, organizes events, runs miles, volunteers and keeps our valley in touch with shared experiences and information.

Fight the Overblown—Like the rest of the world, Palmer’s Valentines Day has somehow expanded into a tediously long season of red, chocolate, flowery week plus. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with chocolate, flowers or the color red. But when it comes prepackaged in huge, overpowering, dominant doses it isn’t nearly as good. And the sad fact is Valentine’s day is a function of commercialism and marketing with little authentic meaning. Usually it involves large amounts of money being spent on disposable stuff or meals. Sometimes it is a real expenditure, like a ring or jewelry, but frankly that is pretty rare now. It’s the non-recyclable balloons, cheap decorative hoopla. large gift bags, glitter and confetti, fake chocolate roses and huge expensive greeting cards. In fact there is a push to make this single special day last two weeks with structured themes running from Feb 7 through Feb 14 and then for one full week afterwards.

Real Palmer Valentines Day—In Palmer, hand drawn valentines are still charming. Kind compliments are still sincere. A delicious homemade meal is authentic care. A little box of chocolate and a handful of silly hearts is total sweetness. And a single rose says far more than a gaudy arrangement.

Love and Taxes—Here’s a stretch: Palmer love day and Mat Su Borough tax day happen right next to each other and both come up this week. Love and Taxes. Typically these two distinct subjects would not be in the same sentence let alone the same article. However, this is Alaska and in the Mat Su Borough, this is your opportunity to give love back in the form of the 2nd installment of your annual property taxes. Now, the immediate chorus begins about receiving nothing for your tax money. But frankly a lot we love about our community is a function of taxes!!!! Please remember that our Borough provides services in animal control, code compliance, junk and trash, fireworks, landfill, road service areas, roads, parks, emergency services, public safety, rescue, ambulances, fire protection, swimming pools, water rescue, recycling, clean-ups, solid waste, and maintenance.

Love in Palmer—Basketball is going full strength in Palmer along with Hockey. More walkways are shoveled and there is more light. Good soups are at nearly every eatery and Bleeding Heart has a Cubano sandwich to die for. There are sound baths at AK Namaste and fun stuff at Poppy Lane. Don’t hibernate…find your joy and get out and enjoy it.

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