Wasilla’s Other Warrior

LOVE

As many of you may know, I traveled waaaay up north to Alaska last summer, to visit this intriguing state and work on a political campaign for a couple of weeks. 

Without a doubt, the most precious blessing of my stay in Alaska was meeting, for the first time, wonderful people I had previously only known via text messages, stories, and the occasional Facebook post.  From that time on, I have come to consider these warm families - and “colorful” personalities - the dearest of friends.

Now, due to an unfortunate accident, one of those families is in need of our help.

HOPE

Shelby, 13 years old (who is pictured above on the right), was out sledding this past weekend on a popular hill, not far from her Wasilla home.  Unfortunately, one of her runs down the slope went awry and she collided with a tree in her path.  The angle and force of the collision resulted in a severe spinal injury and internal bruising.

After three painful days in the hospital, doctors were finally able to perform the necessary surgery to repair Shelby’s spine.  Miraculously, her spinal cord was intact and there is hope for her full recovery.

However, Shelby remains in the hospital and her rehabilitation will be a long and expensive road.  So, this family - who are beloved, cherished members of the Wasilla community - cannot do all of this alone.

FAITH

They need our prayers and they need our donations.  If you are able to offer just one or both of these necessities, know that your generosity is very much appreciated.

Alaska is a place where neighbors take care of neighbors, and communities stick together.  I hope that you will take this opportunity to join the community of support across the country for one of Wasilla’s youngest warriors as she makes her way back to health.

How you can help:

  • Donations can be made directly here
  • Leave your prayers and comments at the Friends of Shelby Facebook page
  • Share this story with your friends on Twitter and Facebook - the more prayers the better!

- 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.)

Joe “Creepy McG” McGinniss Stalks the Palin Backyard

Last night, Governor Sarah Palin sent out a nice update about the glories of summer in Wasilla, Alaska:  Gardening, lawn mowing, children playing, and a creepy Massachusetts writer with no talent and a wild imagination who has decided to vacation next door to the Palin family home for the next five months.

What was that last part, you ask?  Yes.  That’s right…we speak of Joe McGinnis.  The author of a hit-piece in the now-defunct Portfolio magazine has decided that in order to research his new book (a longer-winded hit piece on the governor?) he needs to be up close and personal with his subject.

Somehow, both Joe and his publisher (Random House) decided that next door to the Palins would be an appropriate place to set up shop.  For the rest of the world, however, this new living arrangement is decidedly inappropriate and shockingly invasive.  It is truly appalling to see how far some people will go in their obsession with Governor Palin and her family and this situation reeks of harassment! 

Creepy McG. has stepped way out of bounds on this one and, despite the Governor’s humorous write-up, the Palins must certainly be ill-at-ease knowing this guy is just a few feet away from their family home.  Creepy’s vacation plans may be technically legal, but they are anything but decent.  The Palins are average citizens who have a right to some semblance of privacy.  Now, it seems, they’ll have to alter yet another aspect of their daily lives to take the time and resources to build a fence between their home and their unwelcome observer.

This whole situation is absurd and Creepy McG. is clearly disturbed.  Random House Publishing should be ashamed to have any association with this man and should act immediately to get his backside out of the Palin’s backyard.

- tdc

*Photo by Governor Palin (via Facebook)

a servant's heart: the palins volunteer at annual christmas dinner

The Christmas Friendship Dinner is an annual Christmas-day event in Governor Palin’s hometown of Wasilla, Alaska.  The dinner serves thousands of people each year, and is the culmination of thousands of hours of volunteer work to decorate the host venue, prepare food, staff serving lines, and, of course, clean up.

Wasilla resident Tracey Porreca provides a wonderful summary of the event, including a few photos of Wasilla’s most famous family doing their part to pitch in.  I invite you take a look at Tracey’s post and give some thought to how you might participate in a similar tradition in your community.  If there isn’t one, well…perhaps you might start the new year by planning your own version of the Christmas Friendship Dinner.

Thanks to Tracey for the great post.  And, well done, Wasilla - you are an inspiration!

- tdc