Palmer story of lost and found

We all forget our keys. We misplace our phones. The toddler’s teddy is forgotten in the shopping cart. Wallets slip out of the side car console. A mitten squeezes out of a coat sleeve and is left laying abandoned and alone on the sidewalk. Sunglasses fall out of our pockets. Jewelry is removed for hand-washing and then forgotten on the counter in a public restroom. Our dogs or cats get out and run. These all become lost. Oftentimes they are lost for good.

But this is a story of Palmer recovery. Over the last five years, so many dogs, phones, teddy bears, wallets, and jewelry have found their way back to their owners. It’s an interesting story when you actually start looking at it.

It’s that critical awareness moment when you know you lost something…maybe it was valuable or essential or maybe it was sentimental. It’s a crushing recognition because it means time and money and or tears to find and replace it. We recognize our own carelessness immediately even though it wasn’t deliberate.

We make a desperate posting on Palmer social media. “Help. Looking for my baby’s smooshy bear. I would love to find it again. I think she dropped it from her stroller on a walk yesterday.” Usually that is the hopeful introduction, pleading for help.

We are fortunate that in Palmer, people take notice of these sorts of things. Responses are frequent, genuine, non-judgey and often random with helpful advise.

In the last several years the recovery rate of “these little things,” has been excellent. Perhaps it is because social media is so immediate and widespread. Social media platforms are the new community bulletin boards. Our Palmer facebook platform, the “Palmer Alaska Buzz,” is happy to be a useful connection in the recovery arena. And our Palmer stores, our library and our Palmer Police Department are all so instrumental in assisting people find their stuff. But mostly, it is part of the Palmer mystique that drives most of us. We want to help people, bottomline. The Palmer area is filled with good hearted people and our community celebrates successful “lost and found stories” continually.

Full Moon and Spring Equinox on Sunday—This is the Full Worm Moon on Friday. And two days later the first day of spring will officially occur on Sunday, March 20, which is marked by the arrival of the Vernal Equinox. We used to celebrate it on March 21 but astronomers have corrected us. Vernal means new or fresh and equinox is from equal night. As all Alaskans know, this is the time when light gets the win.

Palmer Ukrainian Support—This weekend a number of Palmer private businesses are “Standing With Ukraine.” Turkey Red, The Fern, 203 Kombucha, Bleeding Heart Brewery and Midnight Sun Yoga are donating 50% of their sales on certain days this weekend. This fundraiser is entitled “Palmer For A Purpose” whereby money is raised to feed refugees hot meals—through the World Central Kitchen. More information is available at “Palmer for a Purpose:We Stand with Ukraine.”

Crazy Lazy VIII on Saturday—This is the Crazy Lazy Mountain Race in Palmer Alaska. It is perhaps the only winter race and it is surely an interesting event. It is a seven mile loop, up Lazy Mountain, down the east ridge to the the new Matanuska Peak Trail, north on the Morgan Horse trail and finally back to the finish at the Lazy Mountain trailhead. Parking will be at the Lazy Mountain Bible Church on Clark-Wolverine Road. Start up is 11 AM and you should be able to see the racers going up and down for several hours. The post race party is at Arkose Brewery in Palmer. We expect to see over 200 wonderful preregistered athletes take this local challenge. Good luck!

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. Her “Palmer Buzz Community Calendar” is available at Palmer shops. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222