Judy Price is Writing

Although all three of these animals are orphans residing at the Alaska zoo in Anchorage, only one of them is actually a native Alaskan.

Do you know which one that is?

If you guessed ‘Grizzly’ you would be right

Alaskan Perspective

People watching is one of my favourite pastimes, especially when I travel alone.

In Alaska, while admiring the allure of this vast and challenging environment which leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, and where the wilderness of  Denali showcases the draw to this country, The Last Frontier, I noticed an uncanny comparison to its men.

I recall a past television show, ‘Men in Trees’, filmed in Alaska, which implied that there are as many men in the state as there are trees.

However, I would agree that I saw more men of all ages than I did women, but not nearly as many men as the multitude of trees in my view, during my two week stay.

I noticed that most of the men I saw congregated in groups and were really enjoying the company of other men.

They were routinely drinking, watching football, listening to live music, and socializing with one another.

Even on a Saturday night this was the norm. 

I have to believe that some of them were married or had girlfriends, yet no women were with the majority of men I saw.  

I don’t believe that all or even most of them were homosexual. 

These men just seemed to truly prefer the company of men to women.

The phrase, ‘man’s man’ comes to mind.

I would venture a guess that these  Alaskan men are as challenging for women to relate to as the rugged and dangerous landscape is for these men to negotiate

I think it timely to post a ‘thank you’ to all rescue workers worldwide.

Most recently, and at the forefront of my mind are the Chilean crew who methodically and expertly successfully extracted 33 miners after a 69 day entrapment below ground.

“Mission Accomplished” is the banner these heroes proudly displayed in their own language, before surfacing in the rescue capsule one by one themselves.

Thankfully, we have emergency, fire, police, ambulance, medical, military, search and rescue, coast guard; all manner of individuals willing to risk their lives to save others.

Forgive me if I missed naming groups who routinely ‘rescue’ their fellow citizens, for there are far too many to be inclusive of all.

I am again reminded of 9/11 and where I was, in this year of 2010, on the 9th anniversary of the horror that occurred in New York City . . . .

Outside the fire hall in Anchorage, Alaska a ceremony took place as a soldier at the street corner stopped in reverence and silence, before saluting when the Star Spangled Banner resounded with the raising, then lowering, of the Stars and Stripes to half mast.

I was walking on the sidewalk behind him at the time, and when I realized what was unfolding before me, I memorialized the solemn moment, capturing his respectful quiet stance before the music played . . . .

9/11 2010

As I have been in a natural setting for the past week, it seems appropriate that the first post on my return would refer to this respite. 

A good friend has a family cottage there, which she has been frequenting since she was a child, and now I have gratefully been included in this experience.

It was not only a cooler locale than the city, but also more heavenly, with the moon and stars shining bigger and brighter than ever!

This particular lake is healthy, as evidenced by minnows swimming at my feet, aquatic plants hosting ‘mating wheels’ of electric blue damselflies, and a variety of ducks and loons swimming and diving around me.

Being immersed in nature, my spirit felt free as I connected with everything.

Simply a magical experience!

Back in the city on a rainy day, which more easily elicits a rather melancholy and nostalgic mood, I am finding the real possibility that I am experiencing withdrawal.

Here I am without the delicious desserts my friend prepared and we both enjoyed, the daily afternoon margaritas or more likely bottle of wine that we shared, the companionship of being with a friend, and most of all nature.

It’s clear to me that I must decide where to relocate so that I will never need to experience withdrawal from nature again.

Minnows swimming at my feet

'Electric blue' Northern Bluet Damselfly mating wheel

 

Eleven months ago today my mother died in my presence.  I felt her spirit leave her body.  Her eyes stayed closed.  She was at peace.

When I visited her graveside on her birthday, after my return from England, I felt at peace seeing the plaque completed with her year of death in addition to my father’s.

Perhaps my sense of inner contentment relates to the knowledge deep within my soul that my parents are reunited and live in a spiritual dimension now. 

When in England I observed many signs of life everywhere; of my Mom and my Dad.

I’ve already written about the Seven Sisters, and climbing them one month ago today, acknowledging one of my mother’s seven sisters as I reached the crest of each of the seven cliffs. 

On the 16th of May, the day after the ten month anniversary of my mother’s death, I was on a hike which encompassed twelve miles of the 1066 Country Walk, retracing William the Conqueror’s footsteps beginning at Pevensey Castle during the Norman invasion.

PevenseyCastle,1066Country

I have previously written about my father’s ties to the Normans and Dover.

On the 1066 walk, in the long grass to my left, I noticed two pairs of ears topping the blades of green. 

I exclaimed ‘these must be rabbits’, and one of the English hikers remarked that it must be ‘hares‘, and that he had never seen one on this particular walk before. 

In fact he acknowledged that he had not ever seen two hares at one time on any hike!!

I readied my camera and gingerly approached the direction of the pointed ears, when suddenly the pair bounded in sync before me so quickly that I had no time to react.

I stood and watched in amazement and awe as these magnificent creatures ran together in unison in a wide circle around us all and made their exit into places inaccessible by us, mere human mortals.

I have never seen a ‘hare’ before.  Jack rabbits, rabbits and tiny bunnies, yes, but never a ‘hare’ and now I have seen a pair of them.

I felt their presence then.

The next day in Brighton, as my hiking group sat in a restaurant on the pier, I received a text message from my eldest daughter telling me about the dream from which she had just awakened.

My mother had visited her in the form of one of her seven sisters, and gave her a most wonderfully warm, solid, strong hug as she told her she wanted to get her ‘hair’ done.

I replied to my daughter recounting my experience with the pair of ‘hares‘ on my 1066 hike the day before, and that I had climbed the Seven Sisters the day before that.

Yes, signs of life are everywhere . . .