I want to start this journal entry with a HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to my most favorite Daughter-in-Law, Becky (she’s my only DIL, and I love her as if she were my bio-daughter). I wish we all lived closer to one another, so that we could spend these special occasions with each other. I did get a chance to talk to her on the phone, which was very nice.
Becky is an avid reader, and she loves the classics. After talking to Brandon on the phone last week, and picking his brain to get some ideas about what to get her for her birthday, I decided to send her two leather bound collections of the works of the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. According to Brandon, there was an audible “SQUEEEE” when she opened the package, and Becky confirmed her joy at receiving the books when I spoke to her today. I’m so glad she liked them.
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I mentioned in my last journal entry, that several areas here in Interior Alaska are under water from all the rain we’ve had. Nenana has been very hard hit, as has Salcha. Fortunately for those of us who live here in Fairbanks and North Pole, only a few neighborhoods have been impacted. It’s a sad thing for those folks who have homes right on the river. Almost all have had to evacuate. Fortunately no rain fell yesterday, and so far today - although skies are grey - there is no rain falling.
In North Pole, there is a dam on the Chena River, which has gates which can be lowered, to restrict the flow of the river into Fairbanks. Behind the dam, is a huge reservoir, which diverts water to the Tanana River. (Here’s an illustration showing the placement of the dam) This area is more than 20,000 acres in size. For a comprehensive explanation of the dam and how it functions, read Ned Rozell’s article in the Alaska Science Forum.
A couple of days ago, Steve and I took a drive around town so that I could take some photos of the flooding. Our first stop was the Chena Flood Control Project. I wanted to see the dam in action. This panoramic photo shows the dam, with gates lowered. As you can see, there is quite a log jam building up. Cranes are on duty - plucking the debris from the river, and loading it into trucks to be hauled off.
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My sister-in-law, Lisa, will be laid to rest on Tuesday in Philadelphia. I am not going back to Philadelphia for the funeral, as much as I’d love to be there in support of my brother. It’s a long and costly trip back to PA from AK, and I would much rather spend time with my brother, after all the ceremonial events are over. I know that there are some who may not understand this decision, but I’ve talked to Mike, and he understands… and that’s all that matters.
Mike and I spoke for several hours this evening. It hurts me to hear his words of immense sorrow, and his tears. I wish that he, and my nephews, weren’t going through this.
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I want to start this journal entry with a HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to my most favorite Daughter-in-Law, Becky (she’s my only DIL, and I love her as if she were my bio-daughter). I wish we all lived closer to one another, so that we could spend these special occasions with each other. I did get a chance to talk to her on the phone, which was very nice.
