Living in Alaska - Life in the Last Frontier

*Ralph Waldo Emerson

The time has finally arrived - our trip to Hawaii! I have been so busy over the past couple of days in preparation. But now there are only last-minute things to take care of and we’re off!

This trip couldn’t come at a better time. The above zero temperatures we had this past week, dropped to -30F this morning when I woke up. The arctic blast is back with a vengeance. The good news is that another chinook wind should come blowing through here soon after we get home. It would be great to come home to something warmer than -30F.

I do have a slight worry about this trip, though. If you’ve been following the news in Alaska, you may already be aware that Mt. Redoubt - a volcano located on the Cook Inlet - is predicted to erupt.

From this very informative website:

Unrest continues at Redoubt Volcano. Seismicity currently remains above background and eruptive activity is likely over the coming days to weeks.

Please send positive thoughts that if there is going to be an eruption, it doesn’t occur until we are safely in Hawaii enjoying warm breezes and the sound of the ocean.

I don’t anticipate updating this journal while we’re gone, but I’m sure there will be plenty to write about, and many photos to share, when we return.

I want to thank Gip and Carmen for watching our house, and looking after Airborne. They might not see her while we’re gone (she hides when left alone), but she’ll appreciate seeing food in her bowl.  No wild parties, OK Gip? *grin*

Aloha friends!

I want to start this journal entry acknowledging a very amazing and historical event - the Inauguration of President Barack Obama! Like many of you, I was glued to the television, watching the events unfold. On Alaska Time, this meant I had to be up at 6am - and I had no trouble waking. I recorded the events for Steve, so they he could watch them when he woke up (he was sleeping off night shift).

There is always something amazing about Inauguration Day. Regardless of who the new president is, the fact that we have leaders - often of opposite or adversarial parties - who can hand off power in a peaceful way, with a lot of celebration, makes me proud to be an American.

As I watched the festivities, I found myself tearing up with emotion, that our country had elected an African American to the position of President of the United States. For that alone, it was a very memorable day. Seeing millions of Americans, in the streets of our capital (my friend Michele and her daughter Maddie were there!), celebrating a new hope for the future made me feel joyful. Inauguration Day is a new day for all of us in America and the world.

Today I give thanks for a new chance, a new day, and a brand new president to guide us over unpredictable waters with a steady and gracious hand.

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I love when the snow falls. It’s so pretty! Some of you might think I’m nuts for loving snow, especially living in a place where we get so much snow. But the reality is that, when it’s really cold, it doesn’t snow. We haven’t had a pretty snow in a while, and I’ve been hoping for it after the warm up we had over the past week.

The warm weather melted a lot of the snow, revealing the uglier, less fresh stuff beneath. We needed something pretty and pure to cover it up, and on Monday night it happened. I stood out there with Sedona for several minutes, feeling the snowflakes on my face. Beautiful.

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On January 13th, the legendary “Eagle Lady”, 85 year old Jean Keene, died with several good friends in attendance.  Jean’s feeding program drew hundreds of bald eagles and many photographers (myself included) to the Homer Spit each winter.

If you’ve been reading my journal for awhile, you know that Steve and I have made two trips to Homer - specifically to see the eagles - in March of 2007 and 2008.  We planned to return this year, but after hearing of Jean’s passing, we’ve considered canceling our trip. It just won’t be the same without Jean there feeding the eagles.  On the other hand, I would like to go in memory of this wonderful woman. We’ll decide when we get back from Hawaii.

From the Lands End Resort website in Homer, I found the following information. I wish we lived closer, so that we could attend:

Ceremonial Eagle Feeding to be held at
Jean’s home on the Homer Spit
at 3:00 Saturday, January 24, 2009
Memorial Service & Reception to follow at 3:30
in the Quarter Deck at Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska

I created this composite memorial photo with a quotation in honor of Jean. This is one of the photos I took, while visiting Homer in March of 2008. I am certain that Jean is now soaring with the eagles in heaven.  RIP, Jean.

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