Take a look at this video from a news station in Philadelphia, PA. http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7967738
It is never wrong to do the right thing…(thanks for the phrase, JeannaLynn!)
Miscellaneous
Alaska: big state, or small?
Alaska is famously large. There are a lot of statistics that emphasize the bigness of the state, the awesome natural features of mountains, glaciers, Arctic tundra, frozen seas. But there is a curious smallness to the state as well, something that isn’t understood until you live here. There are very few people in Alaska. This is the only place I’ve ever lived where I regularly cross paths with people I’ve met in other parts of the state.
When we first moved to Alaska, I was shocked at how often I saw people I knew in the Anchorage airport. You pass through Anchorage to get to Kotzebue, (you have to fly to Kotzebue, there are no roads to take you there) and there was always someone at the airport gate that we knew, either by name or face. We moved to Ketchikan and already knew people in this region that we had known in Kotzebue, who moved here before we did. Now we know people in Sitka, Anchorage, Kodiak, Metlakatla, Craig, and of course, we still have friends in Kotzebue. People move about a lot in this state. Paths cross frequently.
We’re in Craig for two weeks, and just learned that friends moved here two weeks ago, so we’re having dinner with them before we leave. That’s how Alaska is. People you knew in one community pop up somewhere else. And of course, people do leave the state. But it is surprising to me how often there is re-circulation of the population. Any hearty readers out there who want to give it a try? Alaska will give you stories for a lifetime…that’s my personal tag-line for the state. And if you’re interested in rainforest country, I have a house to sell…great view of the water, and in the historic district. Come on up, give it a try. I promise it will change you forever! But it will be good, and eye-opening, and for anyone interested in living in a foreign country where English is spoken and the dollar is the currency, Alaska is your opportunity. It is often called the last frontier. But don’t let the size fool you. It’s a small town place at heart.
Craig, Alaska
You never know where you’ll find yourself if you don’t mind a little adventure…This week Rob and I are in Craig, Alaska, on Prince of Wales Island. The island is about a three-hour ferry ride from Ketchikan, or a 30 minute flight from Ketchikan on a Cessna aircraft. Rob is working for the next two weeks at a clinic in the small town of Craig. I am along for the ride, working at the clinic here in the same admin role I have in Ketchikan. Nice that this facility is part of the PeaceHealth system! It’s a rare opportunity for me to work in the same environment as Rob, and the bonus is that we can spend the evenings together.
But back to Craig…small town Alaska…there is a grocery, a hardware store, a school, a health clinic, a rec center, a few additional stores, a harbor, lots of bed & breakfast options, a pizza place…this is a fishing heaven in the summer. Not that I would know about that personally, but that’s the main attraction of the community. Southeast Alaska was once about lumber, now it is more about commercial and recreational fishing. There are lots of roads on this island, a remnant of the past logging industry. It is a popular destination for hunting and biking, as well as fishing, and the population ebbs and flows with the season. In summer it can be hard to find lodging…not a problem in January. The rain is a regular presence, a reminder that southeast coastal Alaska is rainforest.
I am fascinated by what draws people to the small villages of Alaska. You can never tell by looking…some people come and stay forever, most don’t. But some are raising families, making a life in these small outposts. They are connected by modern technology, separated by the isolation of geography and climate.
These places are not for me long term…like most people, I find the isolation too much. But it is interesting to get a glimpse of this blend of past and present. These communities are living history museums…better come see for yourself before they’re absorbed and changed by modern life. But take my advice and try to come in the summer…just be sure to book your lodging in advance!
“Slam Poetry” – who knew?
I recently came across this YouTube video that was so stunning I had to share it. I notice it was posted three years ago, so maybe I’m the last person on the planet to see this. The piece is from the “slam poetry” genre, a type of spoken word poetry that often focuses on current issues and injustices of politics, gender, economics, etc., and can be very controversial in nature.
I am not often drawn to this type of thing, but I felt this was very powerful. The poet, Katie Makkai, doing a piece called “Pretty,” speaks about the fixation that our society, and particularly women, have with appearance. She talks of her own struggle with image and then broadens her point to include women who look for fulfillment in their latest shopping excursion, and to men who are looking for love by seeking attractiveness first. She concludes by promising her future daughter that she will never be simply “pretty” or defined by that word. It is well worth a couple of minutes to view.
I am not any ardent feminist, and I am realistic enough to know that despite humanity’s best effort and intention, people who possess personal beauty will always be counted favored and fortunate. It is certainly no crime to want to be attractive or to want to present one’s best self to the world. But the poet’s point is that for many people, beauty, attractiveness, appearance become so important that the real worth of the individual is diminished, and a false value is established: the value of how beautiful one’s face and body is, rather than the worth of the person behind the appearance.
Let me know what you think. I’m interested to know if this resonates.
Grace and Life 