What the Palmer winds wrought

The big wind is over, leaving Palmer looking somewhat like a scarred moonscape, complete with craters and abrasions. Until we receive new snow, this pockmarked landscape will remind us of the fierceness and the strength of the full week of January wind. Fields are scoured, large drifts of snow are now concretized, and all of nature’s debris is far-flung on the crusty remains of the snow.

Silence After the Wind—Hearing the wind stop is one of the best sounds in Palmer. The howling stops. The violent clanging of flag pole cables stop. Mothers stop moaning. Babies stop crying. Dogs stop whining. The silence is sweet. We treasure the abatement of the wind.

Palmer Winds are Powerful—We admit it and honor it. They can drive us mad and testy. Prairie madness is an old term that described a climatic affliction in the Great Plains. It focused on the isolation primarily but it has later been described as attributable to the winds that roared for days and days. In the Antarctic explorations, Ernest Shackleton wrote about the trials of the unending wind. They called it “amenomania,” which is an odd type of lunacy, oftentimes produced by wind visuals and madness. Regardless of Palmer winds duration or severity, WIND was the primary topic of discussion all week. Wind started off and ended all conversations. Winds’ presence directed our movements, our responsibilities and our lives. Errands were not run. Bird feeders and gas tanks were not refilled. We are grateful it is over for now. But we know it will come again.

After the Palmer Week of Wind—This is the time to go hunting. We look for our trash can lids. Our garden ornaments. Our trampolines. The snow sticks. All of the items that free ranged last week, because of the wind, are now up for retrieval. Neighbors exchange items and stories about their week in the wind storm.

Grateful to Our Palmer Heroes—Finally, after the windweek, we thank the heroes. We thank the Linemen, the power companies, the telephone utilities, and the news providers and the radio stations. We thank the fuel deliverers and the snowplow operators. We thank the road crews, emergency dispatches, law enforcement and fire departments. These continual and constant workers can never be thanked enough.

Seeds Have Arrived!!!—This is not a false hope any longer. If you go to any grocery store or hardware store you will see the preparatory racks of garden seeds—all stocked up. Plus if you take a look at some of the commercial greenhouses, you will see the very beginnings of activity. This knowledge must give you pleasure in realizing that always, after winter and wind, comes spring and summer. Ahhhhh.

This Week In Palmer — In addition to all the normal fun things in Palmer, here are some additional suggestions.

Wednesday Myles from Dublin plays at the Musk Ox Farm

Thursday is an Alaskan Brewing Tap Tour at the Palmer Alehouse

Friday is a Blueberry Knoll Day-cation with Mat Su Trails and Parks foundation. The 3 mile hike starts at the Government Peak Recreation Area.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday—“Enemy of the People” is a play at Valley Performing Arts and this is the last weekend.

Saturday is Women in Agriculture Conference at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. There is also a Yuki Fest 2020 at Palmer High School from 12-8. There is an “all you can eat” BBQ buffet at the Palmer Train Depot at 5pm. The Chinese New Year celebration of the Rat, begins on Saturday. And the Colony Christmas Palmer Fireworks are scheduled to pop at 630 in Downtown Palmer!

Sadly, Palmer Museum’s “Untold Stories” on Sunday Is Cancelled—If you planned on attending, please reschedule this event.

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 and the Palmer museum. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222