I answer a knock upon the door to find two Mormon missionaries standing there, looking back at me; Kalib and Caleb; Breakfast at Family; Talkeetna alpenglow
Friday, December 4, 2009 at 4:02AM ;)
I was in the bedroom, trying unsuccessfully to log onto an Apple help forum on my laptop, when I barely heard a knock upon the front door. Everyone else was gone, so I went to the door to find these two, Elder Smith of Nevada and Elder Wadsworth of Utah, standing there, looking back at me.
I was not interested in getting into any kind of religious discussion, but, having stood in their shoes, I have a great deal of empathy for these guys, who I know for a fact are really just young men, who want all the things that all young men want, like freedom and female companionship, but they can't have these things for awhile.
I also thought they might like to meet the cats. I invited them in. They posed with Royce.
;)
Muzzy wanted to get into the picture.
;)
He headed toward the missionaries, but this did not please them. In fact, it scared them. They did not think Muzzy was vicious. They thought he would mess their suits up. So I sent Muzzy to the garage.
;)
Elder Smith, Martigny, Royce, Elder Wadsworth.
;)
Kalib and Caleb on the computer, where the missionaries sat not so long before.
;)
I got up very late today. Very, very, late. It was necessary, though, because I had gotten up very early yesterday and had then worked until very late, not going to bed until about the time that many of the early risers among you were already yawning, stretching as you prepared to leap right out of bed.
How do you do that? How do you leap out of bed in the morning?
Margie had already eaten her oatmeal and so had Kalib, so I went to Family Restaurant by myself.
There was a man there who still reads the newspaper. Sometimes I do, too, but mostly I read it online. By the time the paper version reaches our house, I have usually already read everything in it that I am interested in.
I am part of the reason that newspapers are dying.
And the slow death of the newspapers makes my profession all that much more difficult. But new avenues are opening up. It's just a matter of figuring out how to go down them.
;)
My waitress, who generally knows what I want before I order it. She is very good about not bringing my toast until I have eaten the rest of my breakfast.
;)
As I paid my bill, this guy came walking by, aided by a walker. In my head, I saw how to make a good portrait of him and I decided to ask, but you see that little paper the lady at the cash register is taking hold of? That is the credit card statement that I have to sign.
I did not think the man would move that fast and I figured he was probably going to get in line behind me, anyway, so I sat my camera down, wrote in an extra two dollars for the tip, and signed the bill.
When I turned around, he was gone.
I wonder how he did that? I'm sure no one went out the door. I would have heard it.
I will see him again sometime, but he might not be wearing the "these colors don't run" shirt.
;)
I was busy working away at 3:30 PM, absorbed in what I was doing, when I realized that I had not yet taken my walk. If if I didn't take it soon, it would be dark. So I took it. The sun had gone down, but alpenglow lingered upon the Talkeetnas.
;)
A few days ago, one of my readers left a comment that said my blog makes her glad she doesn't live in Alaska.
I love living in Alaska! If I had to live anywhere else, I would damn near die.
The only thing that bothers me is that ever since I fell and got hurt 17 months ago, it has been one damn thing after another that has kept me from getting out and enjoying the country - except for a few work outings last summer on the Arctic Slope.
But I will get on top of things and I will take you out there and then you will see why I would not want to live anywhere else.
Except for Hawaii, maybe - but just for short periods at a time.
A school bus shoots down Seldon, the glow of the set sun behind it. Now the Talkeetnas are behind me.
Reader Comments (11)
These colors don't run. Oh. Man. I laughed out loud.
Also gotta say, I never thought of inviting the Mormons in to pose for pictures with my pet. What do you do? Just jovially say, 'Come in, boys! Meet my cats!' and then they come in, perch on your sofa, and discover you don't want to talk about religion, and neither do your cats...and then they have to figure out how to politely take your leave. We have the Jehovah's Witness here. I don't invite them in to meet the dog. I simply say, "I believe differently, and am content in my own faith. Thanks, though, and you have a good day. Oh, no, thanks, I don't need a WatchTower.' I guess this is why I will never reach your stature as a blogger.
And where did Caleb's mustache go? He's not a fan of six shooters and big hats? Probably because the horses are not trustworthy in Alaska.
Just out of curiosity.. What do Kalib and Caleb work on, on the laptop?
Bill, while I havent lived here as long as you, I too cant imagine living anywhere else. I've lived across the US and NOTHING compares to Alaska. I wish I had been able to move here years ago. Alaska is home. I love it. Of course, people saying they would never want to live here is a good thing also, keeps the population down! Fewer folks up here is just fine with me! Love the Alpenglow pictures.
The pictures of the cats and the missionaries are charming. You have a kind heart.
"How do you do that? How do you leap out of bed in the morning?"
Long ago, in my working days, I hated alarm clocks. Their noise always sent the adrenaline rushing and I would jump out of bed, mad as all get-out that I had to "get out" of bed. So I taught myself to awaken at a given time. I would lie in bed, imagine a clock with the present time and then imagine the clock at my "get up" time. I became very good at awakening at the exact time and in a good mood. I could get up and go to work in a good mood. No angry adrenaline punch in the gut, so to speak. I could do it noon hours, too. Come home, eat a sandwich, lie down and take a 20-minute nap and to awaken at the precise minute I wished to awaken. There is a trick, however. You MUST get up the moment you awake or you will go back to sleep and OVERSLEEP! No second chances! If you allow yourself to go back to sleep, you lose the ability to time your wakeup.
I think you, and your photos, and this blog just proves the point that Alaska is so much more than just cold. So many people ask how can we live in such a "cold" place. The weather can be cold, but Alaskans are not. This land requires engagement, no one gets to ride. We must work to be here, and it teaches every day. Thank you for daily lessons, Bill.
I always love your Alaskan portraits. I'm not sure I'm tough enough to live in that awesome land, but I love its beauty. Thanks for sharing!
Alaska is obviously a latitude of "sink or swim".......I've lived on latitudes from 0 to 38, haven't made it that far north but it takes a confident character to appreciate the beauty of the extremes......shall we say latitude with attitude?
I love the alpenglow. I think it's gorgeous. I'd live there if it didn't snow so much. Brrrr. I'm a big ol' sissy. But I get my Alaska fix from you!! Lovin every minute of it!
Debby - Actually, they wanted to baptize the cats. The cats would have been okay with it, but Mormons believe in total immersion. These cats will not be immersed.
Ash - Hmmm.... cartoons, I think.
LisaJ - Thank you and I agree.
CGinwi - I should have fed them something.
Whitestone - I have been cursed with a natural ability to ALWAYS wake up before an alarm goes off, so I never set one. If I set an alarm, it will keep me awake all night. Next time I have to get up a specific time, I will try to remember and try this and see what happens.
Sylvia - Thank you, again. Say hi to your mom.
MGSoCal - Wow! You lived on the equator! Where your shadow hides beneath your shoes!
Mikey - Good. We will be in Arizona before too long.
ManxMamma - I think you would do okay.
Never say "never!" As much as I hate cold -- and getting up in the dark -- I find myself looking at those pictures and thinking, "Well, maybe..."
Alaska is one of the places under consideration by my daughter and her fiance, and since the long-range plan is for me to live in a cottage behind their house someday, it could happen yet. I see lots of time to read, bake, converse with my dogs -- and a chance to see the Northern Lights. I'll just need to stock up on full-spectrum light bulbs, I guess -- and timers for the lamps in winter. :-)