Living in Alaska - Life in the Last Frontier

Tomorrow, I fly home to Alaska. I can’t believe my time here in Wisconsin has come to an end. It has flown by, but we have had the most awesome time with each other. Every time I see my kids, it makes me a little more sad that they don’t live near me - or vice versa.  I hope another 16 months doesn’t have to pass until our next visit.

Today, the snow is coming down sideways. The winter storm warnings started two days ago, and it’s finally arrived. Yesterday I drove out to Waunakee - a small town northwest of Madison - to meet up with an online friend named Kerry. Kerry and I met five years ago via blogging, and this was our first face to face. We had a lovely time, but couldn’t do what we had originally planned (visiting Mt Horeb to see the trolls), because the back roads weren’t in the greatest shape.

Kerry and I went out to lunch, and when we left the restaurant, the sidewalk, trees, and car were encased in ice. What I thought was rain, was sleet, and what a mess it made! I had to chip the ice off of the windshield, and after dropping Kerry back at her house, I made my way back to the kids’ place very slowly and cautiously.  I had forgotten what it was like to drive on ice, but soon my “Philly driving skills” kicked in and I did OK. Most importantly, I got back to the kids in one piece.

The landscape around Madison is absolutely stunning. There are farms and barns and silos dotting the surrounding area. The reds of the barns against the snow are striking. I took a few photos, but not as many as I hoped to get - there aren’t many shoulders along the roads to pull off onto.

Today, we might go sledding - if the snow and wind slows down a little bit. Right now it’s too cold out there. I also hope to make a dry run to the airport, so I can find my way out of here tomorrow.  I’m driving myself as I rented a car at the AP and need to return it there.

I’ll make a more detailed post with photos after I get home.

Happy Birthday (yesterday) to my wonderful and loving husband, Steve! I’m sorry I missed his special day, but we’ll celebrate both our birthdays when I get home.  I’m ready to go home. While I hate the thought of leaving my kids, I’m missing my husband and can’t wait to see him again.

First my November Gratitudes:

November 23rd: Steve and I live on the flight path to the Fort Wainwright airfield. We frequently hear aircraft flying over our house.  And then, there are those moments when the house vibrates with the sound of a C-17 passing over. They fly so low, that I joke that I can see the pilot smiling.  Military sounds don’t disturb me any longer - no matter how loud or how close. When I moved my sons down to Fort Benning GA back in 1993, we lived 1/4 from a multi-purpose range. We’d hear gunfire most days, but tanks would also train there, and we’d hear the big guns. Then there were the middle-of-the-night “gunship” planes which had cannons on board. The first couple of months, they’d wake us all up, because they sounded like they were crashing on our roof. But after awhile, we got used to it and had no problems sleeping through even the loudest training exercise. When I hear aircraft or gunfire, I feel proud that I married a soldier, and that I live in a military community. If I’m standing outside in my yard, I look to the skies and watch them fly over - waving to them, even if they can’t see me. I am thankful that there are people willing to go to work each and every day and do what most of us wouldn’t be able to, let alone want to. Today I am thankful for the “sound of freedom”.

November 24th: Today I am thankful that I live in a small enough city/town that I run into people I know when I’m out running errands.  This morning I saw my friend Darla at Denny’s when Steve and I stopped to have breakfast. It was nice to catch up with her for a few minutes (and talk cameras, since she’s in the market for a new one). Then, at Fred Meyer, Steve ran into a guy who used to work at the mine, and they chatted for a few minutes. As we were leaving, we laughed about the fact that we can’t hardly go anywhere without running into someone we know.  I like that about living here. Growing up in Philadelphia, the odds were pretty slim that you’d run into someone you knew while out and about. The city was crowded and busy and there were many places to shop. When it happened that you did run into an acquaintance, it was a pleasant surprise. The city of Fairbanks has a population of about 32,000. (If you add in borough residents, it swells to about 97,000 - but also encompasses 7444 square miles!) To put that in perspective with Philadelphia, consider that Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia holds 62,000 spectators - almost twice as many as the population of the city of Fairbanks! Even if I don’t run into someone I know personally, I always see familiar faces when I’m out and about. I like that.  A lot. Today I’m thankful to live in a small community.

November 25th: Today, I am grateful for the always beautiful Northern Lights! They made an appearance last night around 10pm, and I stood beneath the sky watching curtains of light wave against the stars. As always, it was a magical experience and not too cold out either, which made it possible to stand out there for 30 minutes enjoying their dance.

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I’ll start with my Gratitude Entries…

November 19th: The sun is shining brightly and touching only the tops of the trees. The trees are covered with frost and snow. Below the sunlight, the trees are gray and white, but at the top, the frost is a pale gold. It’s absolutely stunning! Today I am thankful that, every day, mother nature creates a new painting for me outside my sliding glass doors. I am also thankful for a heated home, as the temperature outside hovers at -22F.

November 20th: Today I am thankful that there is laughter in my life. This morning, Steve and I had a laugh while he made breakfast. Then we watched a short video that a friend linked to - about a cat and a printer, and we both laughed again.  Then Airborne climbed up on the windowsill and stretched out really tall to reach the hanging plant there, but lost her footing and fell. She scared herself and went tearing up the stairs meowing deeply. Again… laughter. It’s a good sound, and it feels good too. Laughter is the best medicine. A day that starts off with laughter is bound to be a good day.

November 21st: Today I am thankful for early morning silence. I almost always get up before Steve does (when he’s not working), and it’s not always due to insomnia. I have always been an early riser. The alone time I have before the rest of the house gets up is precious to me. When my boys were little, I’d set my alarm to give myself an extra 30 minutes in the morning before they got up for school. I’d have a cup of coffee or tea, and read the paper. When they’d come bustling into the kitchen, I could meet them with a smile. When I was working, I’d get up 30 minutes before I had to for the same reason. I found I was more awake and ready to face the day with that extra time to myself in the morning. As I write this, the house is quiet and dark - except for the desk lamp next to me. I can smell the coffee brewing. While savoring a cup, I’ll read the paper - online. (I’m not going out to the paper box in this cold! *grin*) Good morning, world. Today is a new day, and I’m going to make it the best I can.

November 22nd: Today I am thankful for catching up with family. Steve spent quite a bit of time on the phone with his sister, Elaine (who we only get to talk to a couple of times a year). Now he’s on the phone with his half-sister Julie - who he hasn’t talked to in about 18 years! A couple of months ago, we were watching the show “The Locator“, and Steve told me he wished he could find his half sister and brothers - as he hasn’t talked to any of them in almost two decades. So I got to sleuthing on the internet (thank you, Google!) and - armed with a little bit of information about his sister’s career - I found an email address for her! She was out of work recuperating from surgery, and emailed us back yesterday. And as I type this, he is talking to her on the phone! I’m glad they were able to re-connect, and I hope they’ll stay in touch with each other.

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