What Were My Parents Thinking?

They named me Maraiya and taught me that my name meant wind. My mom was even specific enough to say, "the east wind of destruction that purifies the land before Christ comes." I have no idea what her source was but such was the indoctrination of my youth.

Then, when I was six, they moved us to a place where the wind blows. Oh how it blows - right off the glaciers at 100+mph, strong gusts that can knock you over or carry you a few feet if you happen to have cardboard wings attached to your arms. (Not me, my older brother.) Winds that make boats in the harbor rock and birds take to the skies without ever flapping their wings.

Seriously, what were they thinking? Because I, Leo that I am, can never seem to shake the feeling that I am the one creating all this wind. As a kid I used to say all sorts of "spells" to get the winds to stop or gust up and blow from certain directions. And now, as a 34yo adult, I can't walk through such gusty winds without thinking in my heart, "Ah yeah - I did this, " and cackling maniacally. (And boy, can I cackle - I've scared my kids a time or two - does that count as a spiritual gift? talent?)

Adjusting to Life

I've been an Alaskan resident for the past 2.5 months. May I say that life is different here? Sure, we still drive cars and not dog sleds; we live in homes and not igloos; I've never had an opportunity to eat whale meat; and they are just as panicked here about the swine flu as is the lower 48.

However.....

Every home either has a metal roof (I am living in a rain forest) or moss growing on its roof.

There are barely any heat pumps and almost every home has a large oil tank sitting outside for heat.

Girls still wear dresses to school but they are accompanied by pants underneath as well as rain boots.

My children have to walk to school on the main street and not the side streets as there have been bear sightings.

Every one owns rain gear.

Summer ended August first and, if the crispness in the air this morning was any indication, winter will be here in another month or so.

It rains. Oh, how it rains. I always used to say that Western Oregon didn't get enough rain and I have loved having more, but I had definitely forgotten the pervasive dampness and general overcast/drizzly days that are a normal occurrence.

Church is a little difference. We had our stake conference yesterday (a stake is a group of wards/congregations). Instead of just having a building FULL of people, we had a building full of people plus phone/internet connections to the outlying wards (Craig; Ketchikan; Whitehorse, YT, Canada; Gustavus; Sitka; etc.) Our chapel has two hardwired video cameras and its own A/V booth. I had forgotten how difficult it can be to arrange events with people scattered about and not connected by roadways.

"A Chicken in Every Pot" is translated here as "A Boat in Every Driveway." Seriously. Everyone has a boat. Which is great for our business, but makes hearing others' anecdotes a bit different than down south.

There are fish and crab every where. Spawned salmon washed up on the beach with their eyes plucked out. (Apparently it's the local birds' favorite.) Customers have brought us salmon, crab and halibut by the garbage bag fulls. (I have eaten so much crab that we have had to throw away leftovers as they didn't get eaten in time.) Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but when we went out to dinner the other night, I didn't order seafood and for the first time it had nothing to do with the cost.

10 miles is a long, long way to drive. Everyone avoids having to do so at all costs.

I'm thinking about buying stock in hot cocoa. Or maybe I should start up one of those MM companies so I can buy the cocoa really cheap. And soup. Because I seem to be cold all. the. time. My friends say I'll adjust but my heart tells me, "But I look at the calendar and I KNOW it's still supposed to be summer!"

The biggest change for me is the lack of friends (I have two) and even with the friends I have, lack of time to see them. I miss going to play groups and all those wonderful things that keep me in touch with the women in my life. I like working (for the most part) with my husband and dad, but there is something decidedly missing when you are surrounded by only men or children all the time.

The other problem is that we're still living with my dad in his tumbling down home. My concerns over safety are in the back of my head but the building's survived this long, I've gotten immune to the random inclines (the foundation is sinking) and just consider it to a good walking work out. However, my bedroom is separated from my dad's bedroom by a small, defunct bathroom. And, well, (cough) there are just somethings that should be heard by parents and children. Ever. But I'm afraid to ask if there's an issue. Ignorance is bliss.

The Shocking Revelation

I went to my OB today...and I DIDN'T SWEAT!! I'm so excited.

Now apparently, much to my amazement, not all women out there will understand that last statement. Normally when I have to do the naked thing for my OB, I get all nervous and start sweating EVERYWHERE and blushing (which is no good because I'm terribly fair skinned and it all shows) and getting nervous that I'm going to fart while the OB is down there.

But today - none of that. I just laid there calmly, chatting about our move and my happy pills. No sweating. No odiferous bombs below. It was FABULOUS!

Well, as fabulous as those appointments can be.....

Oh...what's that?

Oh, you mean you were expecting me to tell you the cost of shipping the package to my husband?

The package that I was supposed to send priority mail but turns out, because of the size, they wouldn't ship it priority mail and I had to send it Parcel Post which is cheaper but takes longer?

Okay, Jillybean, Lizzie and Lola (since you're the three who bothered to guess) it was......
.
.
.
drumroll please
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$89.24.

I am so NOT kidding.

If I'm reading this receipt right, the weight alone (5lbs 10.6oz) was $10.11 but the size, THE SIZE, cost me $79.13. Seriously.

Ugh.

Anyway, I guess Lola wins (1,583 bonus points! Way to go! Only 43,097,982 left until you get your prize!) as she was the closest with her bid of $60; I was only thinking $50.

This is why we're packing everything on a barge, because at these postal rates, 30 cents per pound is butt cheap.

And for those who don't read comments (cough - Mia), the box is full of fishing rods (no reels).

Close Encounters of the Alaskan Kind

We went to a birthday party last Friday at Sara's house, the one with the bear poop. We had a lovely time. We bowled and ate pizza. We went back to the house, opened presents and had cake and ice cream. The kids went outside and played noisy games with balloons. Much running and screaming abounded. Then, to top it all off - because Sara is the hostess with the mostess, we had our own wildlife show.

Yup, that's Smokey wandering through the neighborhood.

(Happily he wasn't interested in our yard.) Apparently he was being tracked though as he had a lovely collar on.

It also made me chuckle to see all the adults (the children were shewed inside - we do have some sense) standing outside, chatting and watching the bear.

He took off when some trucks drove down the street.

All in all, a wee bit surreal.

I've seen bears in Alaska before but I was generally near a salmon spawning stream or hiking somewhere; this is the first time one came to greet me at (almost) my door.

PS - Sorry about the poor picture quality; it was after 9pm and the sun was only offering low lighting. And the bear wasn't close enough for my flash to work.

#28

It's funny to me but this one was supposed to be an easy miracle; a bit of a breather to offset some of the more meaty miracles. To quote my sons, "Yeah. Right."

I've been trying to get my every-trip-to-Alaska picture in front of the glacier since we got here. Week 1 was filled with adjusting and saying "Hello!" Week 2 was filled with bookkeeping work. Week 3 was fill with Vacation Bible School which took way more time that I thought it would and while I enjoyed our stroll out to the Shrine, I didn't get to the glacier. So Week 4, being our last week in town, I was determined to get my shot.

It rained. It misted. It rained. It fogged. It rained. It poured. It rained. It blew.

Did I mention it rained?

No shot.

Last night I lie in bed thinking of all that I need to do during my last few days in town; the photo shoot at the glacier (if I can call it that) was at the top of the list. I said my prayer for good weather and went to bed.

This morning, the sun was shining!

I was thrilled. I thanked God and praised Him for His mercy and got busy with my chores and working in the photo shoot before my niece's birthday.

Then I became day care central. I helped Mia out by watching her two in the morning thinking I could put mine down for a nap after lunch, finish my chores and everything would work like clockwork. And it did. Until my little brother showed up.

Last minute, no warning, he asked me to watch his two oldest while he hurried to work (he'd been called in) and then meet him at the party.

Oooookay. No problem. I'm a professional. I can handle this.

Everything went beautifully, the kids had fun (building a "grave" no less, how do they come up with this stuff?) and we left to run some errands at 3:30pm.

Problem #1: All Routes Cut Off.
My first stop was to return $5 to Costco (I had asked for $20 back and they gave me $25 - I just hadn't had a chance to return). The normal turn off was closed because something had fallen onto the local nursing home or something. Idunno. So I drove to the next exit. Closed due to construction. So I drove to the next exit and then backtracked the last few miles. The road to Costco was blocked due to some hazardous materials. Or something. Again, Idunno. Finally got to Costco, keep in mind this is just to return $5, and have to wait in line. And wait. Did you know that I had a 9yo, 2 - 7yos and 2 - 4yos? Yeah. And so we wait....

Problem #2: Trying To Do The Right Thing.
Finally, it's my turn. I briefly tell the story, "Yeah, soyougavemeextramoneywhenIcameintoshopafewweeksagoandIjustwanttoreturnit. Here. " I hand her the money.

"When was this?"

"Ummm, Idunno. A couple weeks ago."

"Do you have your card?"

Seriously?! "Uh, yeah....justasec."

"Do you remember what you bought? Any fresh produce?"

Okay, I can't barely remember the names of my children and she wants me to remember what I purchased during a routine grocery trip two weeks ago? Is she smokin' crack?!

"Ummm...I bought some carrots...." Long pause. "I spent about $17..."

"Oh, here, $20 cash back. Thank you."

She takes the $5, "It's just easier on our auditors."

I know that as a bookkeeper I should have some sympathy but really, I thought my conscience wasn't worth $5....I'm rethinking that now.

So, we all load up (Did I mention I had 5 kids with me?) and drive to my brother's house to drop off the two extras and head out for the photo shoot.

Problem #3: No Parents; Scary Seat
We pull up at my little brother's house and see my car is there, the door is open, all seems to be well but....no one is home. "Now why," you may ask, "don't you just load up all those kids and head to the glacier?" Good question. I pondered that but I needed to pick up a photographer (my friend Sara who lives only a little bit away from the glacier) and the van wouldn't fit us all unless someone sat in the nasty seat. You know, the actual van seat left after removing the toddler car seat for a one year old child. There was a full meal glued to that seat by the saliva, tears, snot and, perhaps, other bodily fluids of my favorite toddler niece. I wouldn't sit there. I wasn't going to force my children to sit there.

So we waited.

Miracle Part 1: Entertainment
Happily they have a Wii. Our stay wasn't too painful.

Miracle Part 2: Adults Return
They arrive, after only a fifteen minute wait, and my children and I go to Sara's house.

Miracle Part 3: Photographer
After a long story (I'm making an attempt to shorten this!) which ends with my friend (who is actually home because I never did bother to call and request that she be my photographer) and I hauling ass to my car, my friend butt bumping her daughter out of the way while she slides into shotgun and then locks the doors and then drive away like a bat outta Hell (way fun by the way), we make it to the glacier.

Miracle Part 4: Parking
I attempted to park in the original parking lot, which is really close to the glacier but is really tiny and generally full during the height of tourist season. We found one empty spot right up front. Thank you Lord!

Miracle Part 5: Empty Stage
We ran down to the photo area where I always stage our picture and, while there are some people there, it is almost empty compared to the horde that can be there when the busses have just unloaded. So we slip in, take the shots and leave. A half hour later, and the last to arrive at the party, I have completed #28!

Here's the results:

Did you forget I had a paranoid hubby? This is why I needed my friend to take the photograph instead of a tourist; how would I explain needing a picture of our backsides? And how would I explain to said stranger the need to have my oldest strategically placed so as to make my backside look a little smaller? Yeah. I agree. Personal photographer totally needed.

The other pictures turned out well too.

Things I Forgot

You know when you have your first Twinkie or Oreo in the last year and you take that first bite and think, "Damn! These are good! Why have I waited so long to have one?" and then you eat the whole bag? Yeah, I'm having that kind of moment in Alaska. Every day I am reveling in some newly remembered piece of living here and wondering why I've been gone for so long.

There are bald eagles everywhere.

I love their cry. (Don't watch the whole thing - it gets boring - just listen to the eagle in the first several seconds.)

The other day I was walking to work from Mia's and I walked by several of them in a tree top. They were chattering back and forth to each other in the tree. It was an amazing sound that makes my heart happy. In Oregon, I always look up at the sky and get excited when I see the shape of a raptor until I realize that it is just a hawk or a falcon close up and not a eagle soaring up high.

There are also ravens.

I can see why the Native Alaskans from this area adopted the Raven and the Eagle as the emblems of their tribes. They are both amazing birds, clever and beautiful. The raven call is also very distinctive and far prettier than a crow's caw.

Then there are the misty, cloudy days when every thing is gun metal grey.

The melding of mountain, snow, trees, water and landscape.

I love looking around me here and just seeing God. Alaska is just so...monumental...grand. I miss that in Oregon. There is nothing really larger than life, nothing to remind me that I am small, nothing and that this is all momentary. Here, I can see beyond myself, even for a moment, and feel a little more calm. (Of course, that peace is still ruined the moment my children whine but for that moment....bliss.)

And then there's the glacier. No pictures to post yet (yes I'm aware that there is a miracle hanging on this and yes I know it would be a huge shame to miss my favorite part of town but there it is). Stay tuned.

Random Posts that I Keep Forgetting To Put Up

HEY! I WON SOMETHING!!

Okay, it's little and it's small and it's neon green but it was a free present in the mail and that counts for a lot! Where did I get you say? From this lovely website that tells you where to give good deals and then gives you the opportunity to win free stuff. (What's not to like?)


Do Bears *&@# In The Woods?

I'm not sure but they do in my friend's yard.

It was an odd thing to hear, several times, admonishments to the children to "Watch out for bear poop!"

You Want Me To Eat Where?

We picnicked at Eagle Beach after our visit to the Shrine. The picnic benches were sturdy things that have been there for as long as I can remember. They have definitely weathered many an Alaskan winter (and summer for that matter) though.

[Note the lovely moss and lichen.] [Note the canister of carrots that are untouched. That never changed but the Rice Krispie treats were fully devoured.]

A Moment of Peace

There was this very lovely prayer labyrinth.

The path was laid out with stones (which made it very easy for the girls to get to the center - they jumped over the rocks - while the boys struggled as they tried to actually solve the thing)

and in the middle was a giant boulder with all sorts of offerings.

I loved the spirit of that place and feeling the hopes and dreams and worries and prayers of so many people laid upon that altar and given to God.

Woman Power!

I had a few moments at the Shrine (I think I was getting vibes from Ayla) and took some "girl power photos." Lulu and I posed, just the two of us, in front of the statue of St. Therese. And then, following the stations of the cross, I snapped this photo.

I love to think about Our Savior and the way He treated the women around Him. I love that women are a vital part of the Plan of Salvation. I love that during the crucifixion, entombment and resurrection, there are women everywhere. This moment seemed to sum all that up.

That may be all but then again, knowing my supreme flakiness, that may be not.

Hey Carrie...

Some of us come to Alaska for all the right reasons!

Mia and kids and my family all went out to the Shrine of St. Therese and Eagle Beach. It was a lovely day and the rain (misty stuff at that) didn't start until well after our picnic was over and we were ready to go home.

Oh, and while we're on the subject of hubba hubba man....one of my friends Sara, who's my cousin because her father is the brother of my mother's sister's husband, was out visiting her family in another town and ran into the Ford/Flockhart brood celebrating the fourth. Everything went well until someone asked for his picture and then everyone started to flock and they had to leave. Can I just say that sometimes it's nice to go where nobody knows your name?

Fun on the 4th

We had a good time on the 4th, lack of sleep notwithstanding. We kicked it off by waiting in front of the post office for a good hour before the parade started. Then, the children ran like fiendish beings after all that candy. Really, who cares about firetrucks, marching bands and floats - lets just have some random people walking down a cordoned off street throwing out bags and bags of candy to waiting children; it's like Halloween without the work. No dressing up in sweet outfits, walking to all sorts of doors and knocking trying to look oh so cute. No, on the 4th, you just stand there and they bring the candy to you! How cool is that? Really, too much fun. Thank you founding fathers for creating such a fabulous holiday!

I also found in interesting that in Oregon we have to watch streams of combines driving past us. Here, it was a 4x4 group and a bunch of mining equipment. In defense of the mining equipment, they were much cooler to watch then the combines.




I did manage to snap a photo of Lulu (on the right) and my niece watching from the sidelines. It's not much but I think it's sweet and I can share.

After this, we all just hung out at the neighbor's BBQ. It was a fun and mellow forth. Yea! Just what I needed after all the activity of the last few days.

Mea Culpa

Apparently it's been too long since I've lived in Alaska and too long since I've remembered my dad's old adage, "Never assume, it makes an ass out of u and me."

Well, remember this?

(I posted it oh so long ago.) Apparently, after talking to my father and being mocked by Mia, it is not a holding area for bears that have been captured (as I assumed!), it is in fact a place for hunters to bring in the bears they have killed. ADF&G measures the skulls and marks the hides and makes sure the hunters have tags for the animals. The hides are typically stinky and Fish and Game got tired to having the smell in their offices.

So much less exciting than my previous thoughts.

Ah, well, here's to false assumptions. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea GRAND clupa!!

(Mia, feel free to comment and mock.)

Welcome to Alaska

Next the the local post office is an empty lot that is used for Fish and Game parking. At the edge of that lot is this:


What's it there for?


Yeah. You know you're in a country to the frozen north when....

I'm waiting for the day when we get to post our mail and hear some growling sounds or see the tent shaking. I'll let you know.