Palmer Petrichor

Can we please bottle this aroma? Palmer Petrichor is that earthy scent produced when rain is coming and falls in dry areas of our soil. It has been particularly delicious in Palmer in the last week. You know the smell I am talking about. It is the earth and the rain dancing together, giving off the perfume of Palmer Petrichor.

Using One’s Horn in Palmer—Palmer is not a honking kind of town. You’ve been to cities where people lay down and sleep on their vehicle’s horn. Palmer doesn’t do that. A honk in Palmer means something. It’s a communication device. It is not just a noisy nuisance or frequent sound effect.

Here are Palmer definitions and translations:

Palmer Quick Beep—

Hello;

Good Morning;

Hiya!

Good job on the lemonade stand!

This quick beep is similar to a goose honk, which is a greeting or a way of saying hello. This kind of honk can also signify gratitude or a thank you for letting a car enter into a long string of traffic.

Palmer Longer Courtesy Nudge Beep—

Please remember that you are sitting at a traffic signal and it turned green 5 seconds ago.

You have been too long at the stop sign.

Perhaps you should get off your phone.

Please, you can go in front of me.

Palmer Longer Horn—

Dog! In! The! Road!

You are a poor driver.

I will Vote for you and your political signage.

I will not Vote for you and your political signage.

Palmer Really long Horn—

Mr. Moose Get Out of the Way.

I really dislike the way you drive.

Palmer Endless incessant Horn—

Security!

Theft!

I’m being stolen!

EMERGENCY!!!

Earthquake!!

Danger, Danger!!

You are in my lane!

You are reckless and impolite!

The manuals tell us that in driving etiquette, vehicle drivers shouldn’t use their horn “to honk at pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists, unless necessary to avoid an accident. Your car horn is a tool to avoid danger, not a tool to express anger during road rage. The vehicle horn’s real purpose design is to convey the important message of collision avoidance or alert.”

Honking in Palmer— Most frequently you will hear horns as a communication device to signal feelings of approval or not. And therefore honking in Palmer is really a mixed message.

Political Statement Honking—Sometimes honking shows an ongoing sign of displeasure. This was heard frequently over at the Old Matanuska River Bridge where a continuing covey of campers and rigs seemed to think they owned the viewing site. They were claiming it as their seasonal and permanent camping ground.

This did not sit well with the locals. Repeatedly people were honking their displeasure. A polite translation was, “You are not welcome to camp at this public viewing spot. We want to walk to the river without seeing your living room, laundry or trash.”

Interestingly when the campers finally moved along, the honking on the bridge ceased.

Last Chance to See the Stars!—We won’t see many stars from now until August.

Third Week of May—Wednesday night is Palmer History Night at the Moose Lodge. SaddleUp Equestrian Arena is having the 907 barrel racing. Thursday night is Palmer Entrepreneurs Night at the Palmer Downtown Deli. It’s also Contra dances at the Salvation Army. Friday is Bike to Work Day. It’s also the Backyard Composting Class at the Mat Su Borough landfill. And Friday is the very first Friday Fling downtown Palmer. The Palmer Alehouse has their backyard stage area opened up and there is music all weekend. The 7th annual Palmer Spring Classic is Saturday. The old Matanuska Bridge Clean up is Sunday. It’s a great time of year in Palmer. This is the beginning of the Summer Season and live it up. We can all hibernate in October.

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