the design conservative | tdc

spontaneous alaska in a nutshell

PLANNING IS OVERRATED

As many/some/one of you may know, I recently took a spontaneous and all-too-brief trip to the great state of Alaska.  My original plan was to travel up north for a late-summer vacation, however, I tend to fold like a wet nappie when peer pressure is combined with travel incentives.  Thus, a couple of weeks ago, when I was repeatedly told that I should just “come on up”, it seemed silly to do anything other than blindly obey.  So, in the end, I justified my quick, unplanned trip with the following reasoning:

1. I had to help my friend, Eddie Burke, with his campaign for lieutenant governor.
2. It was only polite that I travel to meet some of my peeps and tweeps that I had heretofore only known online.
3. I planned to go up anyway…why not go twice?

In my head, these reasons were sufficient enough to push the “Purchase Ticket Now” button on the Travelocity website, and pack up the oversized backpack that had previously seen its way through a couple of European jaunts.  What was done, was done.  No time for guilt or regrets.  So, before I knew it…away I went!

THE BEST OF INTENTIONS

In the airport, I had grandiose dreams of using the Tumblr mobile blogging app to regale my (six?) readers with fascinating yarns about my Alaskan adventures - the sites, the sounds, the wildlife, the folks….But, after an initial test post to make sure the app worked, I quickly realized there would be no mobile blogging after I landed.

You see, Alaska is just too darn gorgeous…

…the four-wheelin’ too darn fun…

…and the moose too funny lookin’…

…I couldn’t tear myself away from the reality of it all long enough to write it up!  So, I apologize for not logging every moment of every day to share here on tdc.  But, let me assure you:  you don’t need my words to understand what a wonderful experience it was.

WITH AN ALASKAN HEART

You can probably imagine the stunning beauty of the natural environment in Alaska.  The mountains are huge, the skies vast, and the rivers cool and crisp and glacier-blue.  Indeed, these are the things I thought of first when I stepped off the plane in Anchorage and took in my first glimpse of our nation’s Last Frontier. 

Over the course of my six days in the MatSu Valley, however, I soon found that the most appealing aspect of this larger-than-life arctic state lies in the kindness of her people.

Alaskans are nothing less than the most universally generous people I have ever met.  Not some of them…all of them.  And the people I came to know are the reasons I am eager to return for another trip. Certainly, there are other towns to visit and fishing to do; but, most importantly, I now have friends I miss and can’t wait to see again: 

• the story-telling collector
• the camera-wielding tour guide
• the hatchet-wielding four-year-old
• the spunky entrepreneur in pink
• the gun-loader
• the peas and strawberries kid
• her whipped cream brother
• the matriarch who remembers everyone’s name
• the Rainbow Coalition family
• the snarky-yet-kind diagnostic mom-to-all
• the bluegrass couple
• the funny quiet man in the corner
• the teacher who didn’t know anyone
• the kids who play outside
• the man who owns the coffee shop where you have to ask for sugar and then wait ‘til he goes back into the pantry to look for it and bring out a big tub(!)…

For six days, this was my Alaska.  I arrived expecting to be mesmerized by the scenery, but I left having been blessed with new friends.  Many thanks to all of you - you know who you are - who filled my spontaneous Alaskan experience with your uniquely Alaskan spirit.  See you again soon…

-tdc

*All photos by tdc (except the one OF tdc…that was taken by K.F.)