I often ask myself, "where has all my time gone?"
moved to Fairbanks Alaska to begin a masters program in creative writing
2000
switched my focus from creative nonfiction to poetry
got a summer job as a tour guide in Alaska's Arctic
crossed the Arctic Circle for the first time
2001
dry cabin living --- got it down finally but never got over the slop bucket
Amy and Aaron came to visit from Nashville, TN
summer: guide
2002
graduated with an MFA in creative writing - poetry focus
considered nursing, looked into the program, decided against applying
summer: guide, swam in the Arctic Ocean for the first time
winter: doll maker, attempt at my own business --- attempt failed
2003
agreed to be a dog handler for the Yukon Quest (the most out-of-character event of my life) Amy came to visit in the winter from Nashville, TN
summer: guide
winter: drove to WI with my dog, continued the drive to TN to visit Amy and then to FL to visit my brother (this marks the last time I've seen him to date)
2004
early winter: drove back to Alaska with my dog, it was very cold
summer: guide, met Doug and fell in love for he first time
winter: sewer and got paid for it
2005
summer: guide
met Rebecca, who was also a guide, and she changed my life forever by teaching me the importance of exercise and getting me over my fear of the gym
winter: sewer still being paid
2006
began taking prerequisite courses for nursing
trained for the equinox
summer: guide
ran the equinox
winter: HR (whatever that means?)
2007
turned 30, death ski 2007 happened
moved out of a dry cabins and into an apartment with running water (first time I lived without an outhouse and slop bucket since moving to AK in 1999) my extended camping trip --- over
summer: guide, flew to Barrow
Rebecca turned 30, hiked Chena Dome, lost a few toenails
Mom came to visit for a week in July, awesome
continued taking prerequisite courses for nursing
accepted into a fairly competitive nursing program, to my surprise
2008
began the clinical program in nursing (January)
Emily came to visit by working for the summer in Coldfoot, Alaska
summer: guide (after 9 summers of guiding, this was to be my last)
First solo hike in the Brooks Range
2009
summer: not a guide!!! lived in Coldfoot and worked at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in order to hike in the Brooks Range
finishing my last semester of nursing school (coming in November!)
I no longer wonder if I will ever leave Alaska, but I am constantly surprised to think it's been ten solid years. If anyone would have told me all this was going to happen, I would have punched them in disbelief.
From this reflection I have learned...
a) I like it when family and friends come to visit
b) family and friends do not travel to Alaska often
c) it is true, what they say...
we only get one chance; I am mostly happy for mine
d) Being a true Wisconsonite at heart, I feel like I deserve an anniversary gift, HI maybe?
So does this mean you may come back to WI in the future? I only wish we could afford a trip to see you. Survival is the name of the game here. We miss you!
ReplyDeleteComing back to WI is ALWAYS an option for me!!! Is this Aunt Diane or Uncle Danny making the "anonymous" comment? I often find myself saying, sadly, that it is family I miss the most living here.
ReplyDeletePeter says, "She has an MFA in Poetry? THAT'S why she appreciates Uggy!!"
ReplyDelete