Living in Alaska - Life in the Last Frontier

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and Santa was good to you and yours. This past week has been busy for me, with several get-togethers with friends, a newborn photo shoot, and recovering from a bout of the stuffy/fever/tummy bug that seems to have been traveling within my circle of friends. Many of my friends in the Lower 48 have reported being sick at some point over the last week too. Whatever this bug is - it sure spreads fast.

Steve and I had a very quiet Christmas. We stayed in lounging clothes, had a delicious meal of spiral baked ham and all the fixins, and watched movies most of the day. We also took the time to call several members of both our families, which was really nice.  I talked to my kids, and they were also having a quiet Christmas Day at home, after spending Christmas Eve with their dad and their (ex) step-mom’s family.

On Christmas Eve, Steve and I were invited to a gathering at the home of our friends Wendy and Mike. Also in attendance were several members of the Alaska Living group, and many other friends and family. They had a festive full house, and it was really great to socialize with everyone. Wendy had a wonderful spread of delicious food: chili, meatballs, various cheeses and other finger foods, and dessert galore. Good thing I was wearing loose fitting pants!

The next day (Christmas Day) I woke with a congested head and the sniffles. By that evening, I was running a low-grade fever. I’m glad we didn’t have any formal plans. The ’sickies’ stayed with me for two more days. I just started feeling semi-normal yesterday, but today I’ve got an upset stomach. I’m going to skip dance class tonight and just take it easy to be on the safe side.

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MEET KENNEDY

On the 23rd, I had the privilege to photograph the newest member of the Harper Family. Baby Kennedy was born earlier this month, and was welcomed joyfully by her parents, and her twin siblings Macey and Everett. I’ve photographed the twins twice before, and was looking forward to the opportunity to meet Kennedy.  I wasn’t quite prepared for how big the twins looked, with a new teeny-tiny baby in the mix.  It sure puts things in perspective!

It wasn’t the easiest photo shoot. The twins were due for a nap, and became a little cranky as time passed. I don’t blame them one bit.  No energetic toddler wants to be told to sit still for photos. Besides, with all the pretty presents under the tree, they were more interested in seeing what was inside those boxes!

Nevertheless, I did manage to capture some nice moments with this lovely family. I hope they are pleased with the results.

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I’d like to thank my dear friend Michele for the White House Christmas Ornament she sent us this year. This brings our collection up to 12 annual ornaments. It’s lovely and we are quite thrilled that she thought of us again with such an awesome gift. Here is a photo of the ornament and information that I found online:

The 2009 Ornament is the second ornament honoring the administration of President Grover Cleveland. Grover Cleveland is the only president to have two different ornaments created uniquely for his administration, one in 2007 and the other in 2009. Grover Cleveland served as the 22nd President from 1885-89 and the 24th President from 1893-97. Benjamin Harrison defeated him in the middle of his terms.

In 1894 the Clevelands were the first in the White House to celebrate Christmas with rare electric lights on their tree. One hundred multi-colored lights replaced candles for the first time. The ornament reveals a brightly lit tree shining through the window in the library on the second floor of the South Portico. The iridescent ornament is set in lavender housing.

This wonderful ornament comes with booklet describing the ornament and Cleveland’s second term. It is gift-boxed in delicate blue featuring the South Portico of the White House.

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A DECADE OF MEMORIES

It’s hard to believe that the decade is coming to an end. I remember when we were getting ready to turn the calendar from 1999 to 2000 and all the Y2K hysteria that ensued. Fortunately, there wasn’t a total breakdown of computer systems across the world, and the human race did not cease to exist.  I knew quite a few people who stocked up on food and water, and others who were sure the world would come to an end. I didn’t have those worries. I was more of the mindset that the world’s computer engineers were intelligent enough to keep things up and running (or fix them quickly, if they weren’t),  and if it truly was the end of the world - so be it.  It’s not like we could do anything to stop it from happening.

I’ve thought about the last ten years, and the journey I’ve taken along the way.  I decided to try to sum up the last decade, much as I did with my year in photos collage, but using words instead of photos. Hard to believe things have changed so much in the last ten years.

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2000: Steve and I were living in Fayetteville NC. Chris had already moved out and Brandon was being a teenage handful! I was working in real estate, primarily doing Property Management and Bookkeeping. It was a stressful job that involved long hours and some weekends. The Army kept Steve busy with a lot of field training and late nights. He was gone all the time. At times it was as if we were two ships passing in the night. Life wasn’t very conducive to family then. We all felt overworked, overwhelmed, and stressed.

Brandon was failing and was not going to graduate with his class the following June. We made the decision to pull him out of public school, so I could home school him in his senior year and keep a closer eye on him. It was the best decision we ever made. With one-on-one attention, and a rigorous curriculum, Brandon acquired the credits he needed to get his diploma the following spring.  In late 2000, Steve came down on orders to PCS (permanent change of station) to Camp Blanding, FL (near Jacksonville).

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2001: For the second time in our marriage, Steve and I lived apart. He moved into a small apartment in Jacksonville FL, in January. Managing two households put a big strain on our wallets, but we had no choice. In March, Brandon got his diploma, and was encouraged (strongly, I might add) to join the service. He was 17 years old and we had to get him out of Fayetteville and away from all the bad influences in his life. He chose the Marines. The day the recruiter came to take him to bootcamp, I stood in the foyer crying my eyes out.  Not only was my baby leaving the nest, but I wouldn’t be able to see him or talk to him (except for letters) for nearly 13 weeks, while he went through bootcamp at Parris Island SC. He sent me angry letters throughout basic training, and many times I cried and worried that we made the wrong decision in pushing him to join.

I was there when he came in from the field, after completing The Crucible. He didn’t know I was going to be there, as not many parents are able to. The boy I said goodbye to 13 weeks earlier had been broken and rebuilt into a strong and self-confident young man. We both cried. He - because he was spent, and me - because I was so proud of him. A week later, he graduated. Steve drove up from FL, and Chris flew to NC from WI, and drove with me to SC. The graduation ceremony was a wonderful event, and our hearts swelled with pride.

In August, I was finally able to join Steve in FL. We could now call ourselves empty-nesters. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. It was a tough transition to make as a mom.

In late August, I went back to college to get my certificate in Web Development - something I always wanted to learn.  I maintained straight A’s and doubled up on my course load to get through it as quickly as possible.  I learned that I took college a lot more seriously as a 40-something, than I ever did as an 18 year old.

And then September 11th happened, and I knew that my soldier husband and my Marine son would probably go to war. I was sad and scared.

Brandon’s first official orders sent him to Okinawa. He came to visit us in FL before going overseas for a year. How would I survive not seeing my son for an entire year?

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2002: Over the course of the year, Steve was very busy training the FL National Guard to deploy. While he had a fairly predictable schedule during the winter months, summers took him away for weeks at a time. We enjoyed our time in FL, and spent a lot of time exploring the state when Steve didn’t have to work. We did a lot of tent-camping and road tripping. We bought bikes and spent nearly every Sunday pedaling the 30-mile trail from JAX to Baldwin. That summer, we had many visitors. They took my mind off of having a son stationed around the world, who I only got to speak to once a month for a couple of minutes.

I concentrated on my studies while Steve was away, taking a lighter course load in the summer months so I could enjoy myself.

Brandon’s tour of duty in Okinawa ended in October. He opted to fly to WI to visit with Chris for his two weeks of R&R. I didn’t get to welcome him home, but was glad he was back in the USA. In phone calls, he began mentioning a girl named Becky. She was also a Marine, stationed in Okinawa, and she wouldn’t be home until January.

At the end of the year, we knew our troops would be going to Iraq.

Also, at the end of the year, Steve was promoted out of his job, called DA (Dept of the Army) to see what his options were, and found out that Alaska was a good possibility for our next duty station.

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2003: At the beginning of the year, Brandon called me to tell me that he was deploying to Iraq soon. He also told me that he intended to marry Becky when she came home from Okinawa several days later.  I think he was a little surprised when I gave them my blessing. Brandon was only 19 - the same age I was when I married his father.  Despite the odds against young marriages surviving, I only wanted him to be happy. My son was going off to war, and he might not return. I couldn’t deny him the one thing that brought him joy. I prayed that having a wife at home would make him more careful and keep him safe. They were married in a civil ceremony in NC on January 10th. I was not able to attend.

Brandon asked me to help Becky find a place to live for them both, and to help her set up house. I planned to drive up to NC and meet my new DIL later that month.  A week after Brandon deployed, Becky called to tell me she was being deployed too. Brandon didn’t find out his wife was in Iraq until he was able to call me in mid February - after not being able to reach Becky - and I had to tell him.  I remember how sad he was to hear that.

The months that Brandon was deployed were the lowest of my life. I stayed glued to the television, watching for news about the Marines. I cried frequently. I had nightmares. I kept up a constant dialog with God; praying for his safe return. Having my child in a war zone unraveled my emotions into a taut string; always on the verge of snapping.

The army came through with orders to Alaska in late April. Steve and I quickly prepared for our cross-continent move. We bought a truck and a camper and planned the 7800 mile drive.

My Pop Pop (Dad’s dad) died on May 7th. Pop Pop was the man who got me started in photography and I still think of him when I’m out shooting.

I graduated college on May 10th (with highest honors) and was the first one across the stage. Steve was there for me, and he was so proud!

We left FL on May 15th, towing our camper, traveling with the furkids, and stopping along the way to visit friends and family. We spent 30 days on the road and it was the adventure of a lifetime!

I met Becky for the first time on Memorial Day (May 26th), when we traveled through Salt Lake City. She had been sent home from Iraq, after severely injuring her knee, and was recovering from surgery with her family. I loved her from the moment I met her and thought she was a perfect match for my son.

Steve and I spent a week on the Oregon coast, a mini-vacation within our travels, before heading north to the Canadian border.

On June 14th, we crossed the border into Alaska. We couldn’t believe we were actually here!

Two days later, Brandon called our cellphone. He was home safely from Iraq! The sense of relief was palpable.

We spent the remaining months of 2003, exploring our surroundings, setting up house on Fort Wainwright, meeting people, and taking short roadtrips.

When winter came, we were both thrilled to see snow! It had been more than a decade since we had lived in a place where there was a ‘proper’ winter.

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2004: I was regularly blogging about life here in Alaska in 2004. My readership increased exponentially, and I started receiving emails from folks from all over the world, telling me that they enjoyed reading about my adventures and seeing my photos. I was amazed at how far-reaching my words and photos were, and loved that I could make the acquaintance of so many interesting and friendly people through this venue.

In the summer of 2004, Steve and I made our first trip around the state. We spent the entire month of June on the road, going just about everywhere the highway system went.  We also flew to Katmai to walk with the bears that year. That was definitely the highlight of 2004.

Steve started training for his upcoming deployment.  We knew it was inevitable. Unless something changed, he’d be leaving for Iraq in a years time.  We tried not to think about it. We had a year… plenty of time.

The year flew by.

We spent Christmas and New Years in Philadelphia with my family. It was nice to see everyone.

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2005: Steve was training quite a bit, and working long hours with his soldiers. That summer, we traveled around the state again. Steve got in a lot of fishing and much needed R&R. We visited the bears on Katmai again.

The big “D” (deployment) was always in the back of our minds, as each month passed.

My mother’s colon cancer had returned.

When it rains, it pours.

Soon, it was time to say goodbye. On August 25th, I took him to his office, so he could board a bus to the air base and make his way to the Middle East.  A piece of my heart went with him.

I didn’t want to be alone that Christmas. Neither did my two closest friends, Rachael and Susan. We all went ‘home’ for the holidays. I spent two weeks with my kids in Madison.

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2006: My mother’s condition was worsening. They started her on chemotherapy. I went home to see her in February. She looked very frail and her skin was pale. She was still living at her own house, but spent many days in bed and in pain.

The 172nd SBCT had lost several soldiers in 2005, and more in 2006. Anytime I didn’t hear from Steve, I feared the worst.  Communication would shut down when a soldier was killed.

Steve told me he decided it was time to retire.

My friends and I clung to each other during the deployment. When one of us was down, the others would lift her up. We made a routine of going to breakfast on Sunday morning, and having “chick flick night” on Friday. We walked every day that the weather permitted. We took roadtrips. We went to the movies. We kept busy. If we were busy, the days passed more quickly.

Steve was one of the lucky few to come home in June. Then, when the brigade was extended at the last minute, he was able to stay home. Only a few remained stateside; the others were returned to Iraq.

My SIL Diane came to visit. By this time she was caring for my mom at her and my brother’s home, and needed a little R&R. We had a great time exploring Alaska and she realized why we love it here.

On August 1st, the call came that my mother was in the hospital and not expected to live through the night.

I went home on August 1st and stayed until August 27th - watching my mother waste away before my eyes.

A few days after I returned to Alaska, she died. At about the very moment she left this earth, I was standing on a hill overlooking Valdez Bay, and a large group of ravens flew by. Something came over me in that moment. A peacefulness of sorts. When I got to the end of the trail and saw Steve waiting for me there, I knew she was gone.

Steve and I took the first step towards retirement. We bought a house here in AK. We were staying.

My friends’ husbands came home from Iraq at the end of December. I was happy to share in their reunions.

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2007: My friends started moving away from Alaska. The lifecycle was over.  I had to say goodbye to some of my closest friends and confidantes. It was hard.

My closest friend Rachael moved to Texas. I still miss her very much.

My friend Donna came to visit in June. We had a great time!

My kids came to visit in July. I took them to Valdez, and to Denali Park, and I enjoyed showing them beautiful AK.

Steve retired at the end of July.

After sending out many resumes and job applications, Steve was hired at Fort Knox Gold Mine in August. We both breathed a sigh of relief.

My photographs were featured at First Friday in December, at Willow Creek Clothing (now closed). It was a huge success!

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2008: The year was filled with the usual… attending winter activities, road tripping, waiting for spring to arrive, planning summer getaways, and working around the house, clearing deadfall and debris.

In June, my childhood friend Michele and her daughter Maddie came to Alaska for a visit. We went to Seward, Hatcher Pass, Denali Park, and sightseeing in Fairbanks. It was great to see Michele, as it had been more than a decade since we had seen each other last.

Tragically, at the end of July, my SIL Lisa lost her decade long battle against breast cancer.  She was only 46.

In October, after many inquiries, I decided to put together my first photographic Alaska Calendar. I was nervous about placing such a huge and costly order, but my nerves quickly went away when I sold every last one. It was quite stressful packaging and shipping them - especially so close to the holidays - and I told Steve I didn’t think I’d ever do it again.

In November, a miracle occurred! Kayla - Steve’s estranged daughter - found us! He hadn’t seen her since she was a toddler, but he always hoped she’d come looking. We discovered that we not only had a daughter, but a grandson too.  This was the year of reunions, as Steve also *found* his half-sister Julie and made contact with her for the first time in many years.

In December, I visited my kids in Madison - a spur of the moment decision. I hadn’t seen them since their visit a year and a half earlier. It was a great visit, although Madison got hit with a freak ice storm which made driving treacherous. I also had the opportunity to meet an online friend in person, after knowing her for several years via blogging.

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2009: Steve and I went to Hawaii at the end of January, after realizing that other Alaskans know what they’re talking about when they say that winter goes faster if you go ‘Outside’ and to someplace warm during the winter months.  By visiting Hawaii, we were able to cross it off our list of 50 states. Now we only have three left: ME, NH, and VT. I think a visit to New England in autumn would be nice.

In February, Kayla and her son Colt came to visit us for a week! It was a lovely reunion, and we really enjoyed having them here.  Steve was in his glory, finally getting to know the daughter he hadn’t seen in many years. Colt just added to the joy.

In May, we finally put a lawn in around our house. It was back-breaking work, but worth it in the end. How nice to look out upon lush green grass!

In June, we drove the Haul Road all the way to Prudhoe Bay, and got to touch the Arctic Ocean! What an adventure!

In August, we traveled to Haines and Skagway - two new destinations for us. It was a beautiful drive and we look forward to going back again sometime.

In September I had to say goodbye to yet another good friend: Lisa.  I miss her company quite a bit. We had some great times together.

I also decided to put out another AK calendar, after receiving countless emails asking me to.  I didn’t order as many, but sold every one.  This time I had them shipped early enough to avoid most of the holiday rush at the PO.

And finally, in December, Steve and I took a wonderful birthday vacation to Vegas, Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion. It was the perfect getaway to beautiful country, and it’s helping winter to pass by faster.  I think these annual winter trips are going to become routine.  At least I hope so.

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SLOWLY, THE LIGHT COMES BACK

The increased sunlight is noticeable, even though it’s only minutes a day. At least it is to me. Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but I can swear the sky looks brighter at 9am now, even though it’s still dark. Maybe it’s the nearly full moon.

I’ve been taking Sedona with me to run errands, and we always stop at Creamers Field for a walk. The length of our walk is dependent on the cold. Recently it’s been cold enough to warrant a short lap around the small guest farmhouse.

There have been skijorers out there the last few times we’ve walked. The other day, a whole family - including three little kids - was hooked up to dogs and on skis. It looks like such fun! Sedona always gets excited when she sees the dogs running. She’d take off after them if she wasn’t leashed.

Since the sun sets so early in the afternoon, I’m almost always still out and about when the sky turns orange. The other day at Creamers, there was a beautiful sunset:

And then, only a few hours later, the moon came up behind the trees in my yard and I couldn’t resist a photo:

I haven’t seen the northern lights lately, even though I’ve been staying up late looking for them. It’s been awhile. I’ve got my camera set up on my tripod just in case. As long as the night skies are clear, I want to be ready.

Steve’s off for New Years Eve and New Years Day. I want to go to the fireworks up at UAF on New Years Eve, but he’s less than enthusiastic.  I might just go with my friend Lori instead.

If I don’t post an entry before 2009 comes to an end, I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce~