Alaska

The Traverse and the Reunions: Returning to Ketchikan (2)

July 23, 2019July 23, 2019 First Person ForeignAlaska

“Alaska lulled me here on some sort of fantasy.” I thought as I ran up and down the hills of the residential streets. I pushed myself to scale them because I am trying to keep[…]

The Joy and The Bliss: Returning to Ketchikan

July 19, 2019 First Person ForeignAlaska

Hoy mismo I landed in Ketchikan and sent a text to Claire. I had to connect to the internet to do so, no T-Mobile in Alaska. I realized this in 2016 when I got a[…]

The Bet I Made, The Best I Lost

October 2, 2016October 3, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

On Friday, I am astonished to report, I lost a bet. As I was packing to leave Alaska (two weeks ago), I struck a deal. You see, I worked on the docks, wearing bright green[…]

“Alaska, You’re the Best Kind of Breaking My Heart!”

September 28, 2016September 28, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

I’m going to tell you something about Ketchikan that no one knows: the clouds are drippy faucets in clever marshmallow costumes. A few years ago I fell in love with John Green. He writes Youth[…]

Preparing to Go, How I Leave Ketchikan.

September 27, 2016September 27, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

Guess what I learned? You can’t be sad about leaving a place you love while you’re still there loving it. Try as you might. That don’t make no sense. My Last Day, Sunday September 18[…]

Song & Storytelling: The Events Before I Go

September 26, 2016September 26, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

Act One: Five days before I flew away, Laura and I performed The Last Five Years. It took five minutes and a handshake to reserve the Arctic Bar patio. Tom Thompson donated the equipment. Brooke[…]

“So This is Ketchikan,” (The First) Conversation in Alaska | 1 of 50

September 25, 2016September 25, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

I texted Danielle- “Just landed!” at 4:05pm on Friday April 15th. “Okay! Slight change of plans. We will be picking you up with a boat as of right now. Some of us have to do[…]

The Man from Eagle River, Conversations in Alaska | 2 of 50

September 25, 2016September 25, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

On my flight returning from Ketchikan to Alaska on September 19, I am asked: “So where’s home?” A very kind gentleman asked from seat 22C. We had a seat between us, which he commented was[…]

But How Small Is This Town?, Conversations in Alaska | 4 of 50

September 25, 2016September 25, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

Ketchikan has vacuum-shrunk-and-sealed to the size of a small hamster wheel, fishbowl of gossip and once you spawn, EVERYBODY GON’ KNOW ‘BOUT IT. I, personally, do not speak from experience on that situation. I have[…]

“Baby?” Conversations in Alaska | 5 of 50

September 25, 2016September 25, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

I stood in a dear friend’s living room in July. I asked “What’s been going on?” I was hung up on a Fisherman, she was hung up on fertility. Different boats. This is what followed: “It’s[…]