So I don’t really like fairs and carnivals ( though I worked at one for a week once ) and we were in Alaska, land of grizzly bear and moose and mountains and… a state fair. I went reluctantly. And it was better than I thought it would be and not good enough to ever want to go to another one. What I did like were the photographs and the crafts. In one craft area were wood turners, a club actually. There was a man talking about the craft while a younger fellow demonstrated. I was amazed by the transformation of the wood and asked a couple of questions. Okay, a lot of questions. At one point the man - either because he wanted rid of me or, as I choose to believe, he was impressed by my insightful questions, handed me a pen he had made that morning. This pen. The wood is a beautifully grained Alaksan hardwood, therefore birch. It writes smoothly and better than I deserve with my awful handwriting.

Did you know I was the only student in the 5th grade who failed to get a Palmer Method Writing Certificate. Still hurts.

Anyway. the Alaskan people we met were usually like this man, a delight and generous with their time and treasures.